December 28, 2009

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped an 89-78 men's basketball decision to visiting Lehigh University Monday night at Willett Hall in Farmville. It was a closely-played contest that witnessed 13 lead changes and eight ties throughout until the visitors outscored the hosts 13-5 over the final 3:46 to secure the win. The Lancers (3-10) were led by redshirt-senior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) with a season-high and game-high 23 points, adding 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season as well. The Mountain Hawks (6-6) of the Patriot League were led by CJ McCollum and Rob Keefer with 21 points each -- Keefer's points off the bench for a career-high. Longwood will play again this Wednesday afternoon, December 30, at in-state opponent and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) member Virginia Tech at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg beginning at 2 p.m..

Longwood opened the game on a three-point field goal by Smith at 18:42 and led 5-2 at 18:07 on a layup from senior Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond). Lehigh, however, used a 7-0 run to lead 9-5 at 16:30 after a pair of free throws by McCollum. The Mountain Hawks still led 24-20 with 8:34 left in the period following a three-point play from Holden Greiner. The Lancers, though, would battle back with a 12-4 run of their own to lead 32-28 at 3:26 as senior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) and junior Aaron Mitchell/Matoaca (Manatee CC) scored five quick points each. LU led 37-36 at the intermission as Mitchell added five more points to finish the half with 12 points.

Longwood continued its momentum to start the second half with an 8-2 run to take its largest lead at 45-38 with 17:49 on the clock, getting three-pointers from Swecker and Smith along with a basket inside by Robinson. Lehigh rallied back once-again with a 10-0 run to lead 48-45 at 16:35 as McCollum made back-to-back three-pointers followed by layups from Zahir Carrington and Marquis Hall. The Lancers stopped the outburst with a three-pointer from sophomore Martiz Washington/Hopewell (Christchurch) to tie it at 48-48 (16:15), and the hosts seemed okay after a 21-13 run that gave them a 66-61 advantage with 8:58 remaining. The Mountain Hawks, though, had other ideas and used a 15-5 run to lead 76-71 at 4:49 behind eight points from Keefer, including a pair of three-point plays. Robinson's dunk made it 76-73 at 4:34 before the visitors outscored LU 13-5 over the final 3:46, started by five more points from Keefer, including another three-point play en route to securing the outcome.

Smith led Longwood with his season-high and game-high 23 points, adding 11 rebounds for his third double-double this year. Mitchell added a career-high 17 points off the bench for the Lancers. Robinson had 10 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) contributed 10 points and six rebounds off the bench as well. Senior #E.J. Dawson#/Fort Belvoir (Mount Vernon) dished out a career-high eight assists. LU shot 42% (32-77) from the field, including 50% (10-20) on three-pointers, and 44% (4-9) at the free throw line.

McCollum and Keefer led Lehigh with their respective 21 points each. Michael Ojo added 11 points off the bench for the Mountain Hawks, and Carrington had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Hall dished a career-high 10 assists. Lehigh shot 52% (34-65) from the field, 63% (20-32) in the second half, including 37% (10-27) on three-pointers, 50% (5-10) in the second half, and 61% (11-18) at the line.