December 11, 2009

COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University will host Stephen F. Austin University of the Southland Conference in men's basketball Saturday afternoon, December 12, at 1:30 p.m. in Willett Hall (1,807) on-campus in Farmville.  The Lancers and Lumberjacks are meeting for the first-time ever.  Longwood (1-8) is coached by seventh-year head coach Mike Gillian, and will be led by sophomore center Antwan Carter who is averaging 16.3 points and 6.4 rebounds.  SFAU (5-2) is coached by 10th-year head coach Danny Kaspar and is led by junior guard Eddie Williams (15.4 points).  It's the second game of the current six-game homestand as tickets remain and will be available at the Willett Hall Ticket Office or by calling 434.395.2138.

Series History
Longwood and Stephen F. Austin have never played before in the sport of men's basketball.  The Lumberjacks are the defending Southland Conference Tournament champions and NCAA Tournament participants after finishing 24-8 a year ago.  The Lancers have only played one other current member of the Southland Conference previously, dropping games to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in both 2004-05 (62-43) and 2005-06 (92-64). The Islanders, however, were operating as an Independent during those seasons before beginning Southland membership in 2006-07.

A Look At Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin is coached by 10th-year head coach Danny Kaspar. The Lumberjacks have won four-straight games after a 1-2 start in 2009-10, including a season-opening road loss at then #18 Minnesota (82-42) and a close home loss to still-unbeaten Texas Tech (63-61). SFAU is led by Eddie Williams (15.4) and Walt Harris (11.4), while averaging 66.7 points, and allowing 63.0 points.

A Look At Longwood
Longwood won its first game last Saturday (12.5) over Florida Gulf Coast (82-75) following eight-straight losses to open 2009-10, including road setbacks at Virginia (85-72), Old Dominion (98-59), Richmond (65-52), and William and Mary (84-65). The Lancers are led by Antwan Carter (16.3) and Dana Smith (14.9), while averaging 66.6 points, and allowing 77.6 points.

Head Coach Mike Gillian
Mike Gillian (North Adams State '86) was named the seventh head coach for men's basketball at Longwood on May 2, 2003. Prior to his arrival, he had been an assistant coach for Jim Larranaga at George Mason for six years (1997-2003) after a year with Coach Larranaga at Bowling Green State (1996-97). A native of Ayer, Massachusetts, Coach Gillian is 52-138 at Longwood, including last year's 17-14 record while earning 2009 Independent Coach of the Year honors from CollegeInsider.com. He had back-to-back 9-22 seasons the previous two years (2007-08, 2006-07), those efforts following a record of 10-20 during 2005-06 that tied for Division I's seventh-best turnaround season that year. The Lancers were 1-30 during 2004-05, their first year playing against a full Division I schedule.

Home Sweet Home
Longwood is 35-18 (.660) at home in Willett Hall over the past four-plus seasons, including 1-1 this year following a 13-2 home record last season. The Lancers were 7-5 during 2007-08, 8-4 during 2005-06, while 6-6 during 2006-07. Longwood is 239-127 (.653) all-time (29-plus seasons) in Willett Hall.

Combatant In Willett Hall
Longwood has won at least two home games during each of the past four seasons that maybe some may not have expected. These homecourt victories since 2005-06 include: Liberty (88-75, 11.30.05), James Madison (77-73, 2.18.06), American (81-79 OT, 12.30.06), Liberty (76-70, 2.15.07), Norfolk State (80-67, 11.13.07), Stetson (78-76, 12.29.07), Liberty (79-68, 2.22.08), Gardner-Webb (85-84, 11.18.08), James Madison (79-76, 12.3.08), and George Washington (80-78, 1.3.09). This year's home schedule could add the following to the list: Stephen F. Austin (12.12) and Lehigh (12.28).

Even Better Second Time Around
Antwan Carter is a second-year team member and left-handed post player who keeps getting better and better ... He has come of the bench this season to provide instant offense and rebounding, averaging 25.4 minutes, 16.3 points, and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 53.2% (59-111) from the field and 78.8% (26-33) at the free throw line. Carter has even shown his range by making 50.0% (3-6) of his three-point field goal attempts this season. He has scored in double-figures during each contest to date while leading the team in scoring six times and rebounding five times already. Carter started nine of 30 games last year as a true freshman. He averaged 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds, and shot a team-best 56.0% (103-184) from the field with career-highs of 22 points at NJIT (3.4.09) and 11 rebounds against NJIT (1.24.09).

For more game notes and statistical information, please download the PDF linked above ...