December 12, 2009

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a hard-fought 73-69 men's basketball home decision to visiting Stephen F. Austin University Saturday afternoon at Willett Hall in Farmville. The Lancers (1-9) were led by redshirt-senior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) and junior transfer Aaron Mitchell/Matoaca (Manatee CC) with 14 points each. The Lumberjacks (6-2) of the Southland Conference were led by Jereal Scott with a game-high 22 points, including the go-ahead basket inside with just 38-seconds remaining to break the 10th tie of the closely-played contest. Longwood will remain at home to host NAIA Virginia-Wise this Monday night, December 14, at Willett Hall in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m..

Longwood took an early 4-1 lead at 17:56 after layups from seniors Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond) and #E.J. Dawson#/Fort Belvoir (Mount Vernon). The Lancers led 23-17 at 10:27 following a three-pointer by Dawson who had eight points during the first 10 minutes. Stephen F. Austin battled back with six-straight points to tie it at 23-23 (9:17), and it was tied at 28-28 (6:54) and 35-35 (3:16) before Mitchell scored seven-straight points for a 42-35 LU lead with 46-seconds left in the half. Smith made 1-2 free throws with just one-second on the clock for a 43-37 advantage only to witness a half-court heave from Lumberjack Will Reinke go in at the buzzer to make it 43-40 at the intermission. Smith (12) and Mitchell (10) combined for 22 first-half points for LU, while Eddie Williams (12) and Scott (10) did likewise for SFAU.

Smith opened the second half with a jumper for a 45-40 advantage at 19:41 but it would prove to be the largest lead of the second half as Stephen F. Austin used an 11-3 run to lead 51-48 at 16:21 as Scott scored four points and Walt Harris made a three-pointer followed by a jumper to close the spurt. The Lumberjacks maintained the lead over the next six-plus minutes but never by more than three points before Longwood finally tied it at 59-59 on a three-pointer by junior Earl Gee II/Chesterfield (Manchester). Mitchell's two free throws gave the Lancers a 63-62 lead at 6:01 before Scott and Jordan Glynn scored inside for SFAU to make it 66-63 at 4:39. Senior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) made three free throws after getting fouled on a three-point attempt at 4:24 to tie it at 66-66. Scott completed a three-point play inside at 2:03 for a 69-66 advantage, but Swecker tied it for the last time at 69-69 with a three-pointer at 1:53. Scott again scored down low with 38-seconds left, and Williams made two free throws at 00:06 after a turnover by the hosts.

Smith and Mitchell (off the bench) led Longwood with 14 points each before fouling out at 2:02 and 00:06, respectively. Dawson added 11 points for the Lancers, as did sophomore Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) off the bench as well, though limited to 20 minutes with foul trouble too. Robinson tied his career-high with 10 rebounds. LU shot 46% (23-50) from the field, including 47% (9-19) on three-pointers, and 67% (14-21) at the free throw line.

Scott led Stephen F. Austin with his game-high 22 points. Williams added 14 points for the Lumberjacks, and Glynn had 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. SFAU shot 50% (26-52) from the field, including 43% (3-7) on three-pointers, and 62% (18-29) at the line as 40 total fouls were called (26 in the first half) with the two teams combining for 50 free throw attempts.

Longwood and Stephen F. Austin were playing for the first-time ever in the sport of men's basketball. The Lumberjacks are the defending Southland Conference Tournament champions and NCAA Tournament participants.