December 4, 2009

COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University will host Florida Gulf Coast University of the Atlantic Sun Conference in men's basketball Saturday afternoon, December 5, at 2 p.m. in Willett Hall (1,807) on-campus in Farmville.  The Lancers and Eagles are meeting for only the second-time ever, and first as Division I programs.  Longwood (0-8) is coached by seventh-year head coach Mike Gillian, and will be led by sophomore center Antwan Carter who is averaging 15.9 points and 6.5 rebounds.  FGCU (0-5) is coached by eighth-year head coach Dave Balza and is led by sophomore guard Reggie Chambers (11.0 points).  It's the first of six consecutive home games as tickets remain and will be available at the Willett Hall Ticket Office or by calling 434.395.2138.

Series History
Longwood and Florida Gulf Coast have played just one other time in the sport of men's basketball.  The Eagles defeated the Lancers 75-58 in Fort Myers, Florida during a tournament hosted by FGCU on March 4, 2004 when the two programs were competing as Division II members.  Florida Gulf Coast was ranked #20 in the DII Poll for that event at Alico Arena in southwest Florida.

A Look At Florida Gulf Coast
Florida Gulf Coast is coached by eighth-year head coach Dave Balza.  The Eagles have lost five-straight games to open 2009-10, including a road loss at #9 Michigan State (97-58) along with a 67-59 home loss to common opponent Bethune-Cookman (12.1).  FGCU is led by Reggie Chambers (11.0) and Anthony Banks (10.2), while averaging 58.2 points, and allowing 77.8 points.

A Look At Longwood
Longwood has lost eight-straight games to open 2009-10, including road losses at Virginia (85-72) and Richmond (65-52) along with a 66-62 neutral-site loss to common opponent Bethune-Cookman at the South Padre Island Invitational in Texas (11.27).  The Lancers are led by Antwan Carter (15.9) and Dana Smith (14.6), while averaging 64.6 points, and allowing 77.9 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 51-138 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 34-18 (.654) at home in Willett Hall over the past four-plus seasons, including 13-2 last year after a 7-5 record in Farmville during 2007-08.  The Lancers were 8-4 at the facility during 2005-06, while 6-6 at home during 2006-07.  Longwood is 238-127 (.652) 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 25.1 minutes, 15.9 points, and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 52.5% (53-101) from the field and 72.0% (18-25) 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 both scoring 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 ...