February 21, 2009

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University rallied from a 15-point deficit with 10:26 remaining for a thrilling 80-75 come-from-behind home victory past visiting Colgate University Saturday afternoon at Willett Hall in Farmville.  Redshirt-junior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) scored 21 points, including 15 points in the second half, to lead the host Lancers who improved their record to 15-12 overall, including 12-2 at home this season.  Colgate, of the Patriot League, dropped to 9-17 overall while led by Yaw Gyawu with a game-high 23 points.  Longwood, enjoying its finest season as a Division I program and best overall since 2002-03 (15-14), will play again on Monday night, February 23, at High Point University of the Big South Conference in North Carolina beginning at 7 p.m..
   
Longwood trailed 42-30 at halftime, and the deficit was 57-42 with under 11 minutes remaining before a stunning 16-0 run in just over three minutes (3:07) gave the Lancers a 58-57 lead at 7:18.  Freshman Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) scored six points during the outburst, Smith added four points, while sophomore Durann Neil/Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy) and freshman Martiz Washington/Hopewell (Christchurch) each made three-point field goals.  The game had three ties and three lead-changes over the next five minutes before LU took the lead for good at 70-68 with 2:22 remaining on a jumper from Smith, and the hosts led by as many as six points on two occasions over the final minute (75-69, :57.4 / 78-72, :20.3) -- securing the comeback triumph with 11-14 free throws over the final 2:57.  Smith scored 13 of his 15 second-half points over the final 8:22, including 3-4 free throws.
   
Longwood had started the game by making 5-7 shots to lead 12-5 at 17:03 as juniors Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) (5) and Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond) (4) combined for nine quick points.  The Lancers led 17-12 at 12:12 before Colgate answered with a 25-8 run to lead 37-25 at 2:06 while six different players scored for the visitors.  The Raiders led 42-30 at the intermission as Gyawu (12) and Ben Jonson (10) combined for 22 first-half points, and CU shot 30% (18-30) from the field as well during the first 20 minutes.  Colgate continued its momentum early in the second half, leading 48-33 at 16:56 as Longwood head coach Mike Gillian began the second half with reserves in the lineup before re-inserting his starters with 14:34 left to play before the late rally to victory.  Washington's three-pointer at 14:57 closed the first 15-point lead to 48-38 following a block and dunk at the other end of the floor by sophomore Brandon Evans/Roanoke (Roanoke Catholic) at 15:39 that brought the crowd back into the contest.
   
Smith led Longwood with his 21 points (8-12 FG, 5-6 FT), adding six rebounds before fouling out late (:07).  Swecker finished with 16 points, including 12 points in the first half, with game-highs of five assists and five steals for the Lancers.  Carter had 11 points off the bench, while Washington added nine points (3-4 3FG) off the bench as well, and Neil had eight points.  LU shot 44% (27-61) from the field, including 37% (7-19) on the three-pointers, and 70% (19-27) at the line.  The Lancers, third in Division I turnover margin (+6.3), forced 19 turnovers that were converted into 19 points with 13  steals as well -- a category that the program ranks sixth nationally (9.7).
   
Gyawu led Colgate with his game-high 23 points (10-18 FG, 3-4 FT), adding seven rebounds.  Jonson finished with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Raiders, and Mike Venezia added 10 points.  CU shot 49% (30-61) from the field, including 25% (4-16) on three-pointers, and 69% (11-16) at the line. 

Longwood and Colgate were meeting for the first-time ever in men's basketball.