November 17, 2009

BOX SCORE

NORFOLK, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a 98-59 men's basketball decision on the road at Old Dominion University Tuesday night at the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk. It was the first contest of the four-game exempt South Padre Island Invitational for the Lancers (0-3) were led by sophomore Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) with a game-high double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. The talented Monarchs (2-0) of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) were led by the CAA preseason Co-Player of the Year Gerald Lee with 17 points, one of six players in double-figure scoring for ODU. Longwood will play again this Friday night, November 20, at Columbia University of the Ivy League in New York City at 7 p.m..

Old Dominion, possibly the best team the Lancers will play all season, jumped out to an early 15-4 lead at 14:41 as Ben Finney scored five quick points for the hosts who finished 25-10 a year ago and return all five starters. It was 17-8 at 11:56 after a layup from junior Earl Gee II/Chesterfield (Manchester) before ODU scored six-straight points to lead 23-8 with 8:59 left in the half as Finney scored on a dunk to finish the run. A layup by senior Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond) had Longwood within 25-15 at 8:08 before a 20-5 run by the Monarchs provided for a 45-20 lead at 1:53 and complete control of the game. It was 49-25 at the intermission as Lee (12) and Finney (10) combined for 22 first-half points for the hosts whose team physically resembles those seen in the Big East more than the CAA.

Longwood was never able to close the margin in the second half, trailing 56-30 with 17:01 on the clock after a layup from junior Aaron Mitchell/Matoaca (Manatee CC). Old Dominion took its largest lead at 86-44 with 7:07 remaining on a three-point field goal by Marsharee Neely. A bright spot for the Lancers during the second half was the outstanding performance by the ever-improving 6-6, 225-pound Carter who scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds over the final 10:38. Unfortunately, the visitors just could not match the overall talent and depth of the Monarchs who received points and rebounds from all 11 players, 10 that played at least 13 minutes in the game.

Carter led Longwood with his game-high double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench. Robinson contributed 13 points and four rebounds for the Lancers, while redshirt-senior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) added eight points and five rebounds. LU shot 40% (24-60) from the field, though just one for 16 on three-pointers, and 56% (10-18) at the line.

Lee led Old Dominion with his team-high 17 points. Others scoring in double-figures for the Monarchs were Neely (13), Finney (12), Kent Bazemore (12), Trian Iliadis (11), and Frank Hassell (10). ODU shot 53% (38-72) from the field, including a remarkable 71% (10-14) on three-pointers, and 75% (12-16) at the line. The Monarchs took a 48-30 advantage in rebounds, and now lead the all-time series between the two schools at 2-0.

Longwood will play its second game in the South Padre Island Invitational next Tuesday, Nov. 24, at the University of Richmond following the game on Friday night at Columbia.