November 28, 2009
BOX SCORE
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – Longwood University dropped a 74-70 men's basketball decision to Chattanooga Saturday afternoon at the South Padre Island Convention Centre in Texas. It was the seventh-place game of the South Padre Island Invitational as the Lancers (0-7) were led by redshirt-senior
Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) and sophomore
Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) with 18 points each. The Mocs (3-3), defending Southern Conference Tournament champions and NCAA Tournament participants, were led by Ricky Taylor with a game-high 21 points off the bench. Longwood will play again on Wednesday, December 2, at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg beginning at 7 p.m..
Longwood scored the first nine points of the game and led 9-0 just 2:10 into the contest as sophomore Martiz Washington/Hopewell (Christchurch) made two three-point field goals and senior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) made one three-pointer. Chattanooga used a 13-2 run to lead 13-11 at 14:04 after a three-pointer by Josh Odem in the closely-played contest that featured 11 lead changes and nine ties throughout. The Lancers responded with a 14-4 run to lead 25-17 at 9:25 behind eight-straight points from Carter, including two three-pointers. The Mocs followed with 11 unanswered points to lead 28-25 at 6:25 as Ridge McKeither scored seven quick points. LU, however, closed the half strong with a 12-3 run to lead 37-31 at the intermission as Carter scored six more points to finish the half with 14 points while McKeither had 11 for UTC.
Longwood maintained its advantage and led 47-39 at 16:18 following another three-pointer by Swecker. Chattanooga used a 10-0 run to led 49-47 at 13:05 as Taylor scored seven quick points. The Lancers continued to battle and led 57-53 with 8:57 left after a pair of free throws from Smith. The Mocs led 63-59 at 5:27 as McKeither scored six-straight points but LU responded again with seven unanswered points to lead 66-63 with 3:56 on the clock. Taylor tied it at 66-66 with a three-pointer at 3:30, and Smith tied it at 68-68 with a basket at 2:51 before Taylor gave UTC the lead for good at 71-68 with another three-pointer at 2:29. Longwood trailed 73-70 during the final 33-seconds but Swecker missed two good looks at the basket from three-point territory that could have tied it again.
Smith and Carter led Longwood with their 18 points, respectively, as Carter added a game-high eight rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. Washington finished with a season-high 12 points for the Lancers. LU shot 37% (26-71) from the field, including 26% (8-31) on three-pointers, and 91% (10-11) at the free throw line.
Taylor led Chattanooga with his game-high 21 points off the bench, including 18 points in the second half. McKeither had 19 points and seven rebounds for the Mocs, while Keegan Bell added a game-high 11 assists. UTC shot 49% (25-51) from the field, including 50% (8-16) on three-pointers, and 73% (16-22) at the line. It was the first-ever meeting between the two schools in men's basketball.
