February 4, 2009

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University won its fifth-straight men's basketball game with a 98-86 home victory past visiting Maryland-Eastern Shore Wednesday night at Willett Hall in Farmville.  Junior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) led five players in double-figure scoring with 23 points, and classmate Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond) had a career-high 19 points as the host Lancers improved their record to 12-10 overall, including 10-2 at home this season.  UMES dropped to 6-15 overall while led by Chris Conner with a game-high 24 points off the bench.  Longwood, enjoying its finest season as a Division I program and best overall since 2002-03, will play again on Saturday, February 7, on the road at Savannah State University in Georgia beginning at 1 p.m..
   
Longwood jumped ahead early and led 11-1 at 17:20 as Swecker, sophomore Durann Neil/Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy), and senior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) each made three-point field goals and Robinson added a layup.  It was 21-9 at 14:01 after a three-pointer by Robinson before UMES used a 12-2 that included five free throws run to pull within 23-21 at 11:10.  The Lancers, though would overcome 23-27 first half free throws by the Hawks with their 61% (20-33) shooting from the field, including eight three-pointers, to lead 55-38 at the intermission.  Swecker had 16 points at the break, including 4-5 three pointers, while Robinson had 11 first-half points and freshman Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) came off the bench to score 10 points.  Marc Davis had 13 points on 11-12 free throws by halftime for the visitors, while Conner had 12 points, including 8-8 free throws.
   
Longwood extended its margin in the second half and led 72-47 with 14:16 remaining as Robinson (6) and Swecker (5) combined for 11 points during the 17-9 run.  The Lancers still led 77-56 at 11:26 after a three-pointer from Neil before UMES once-again fought back and closed to within 82-73 at 7:54 when Conner made a three-pointer.  The hosts, though, maintained a double-figure advantage over the final 6:54 and led by as many as 16 points down the stretch (98-82, 1:57) before the Hawks added four more late free throws for the final outcome.
   
Swecker led Longwood with his 23 points (5-7 3FG), adding six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.  Robinson finished with his career-high 19 points (7-10 FG), and Bogan had 13 points, six rebounds, four steals, and three assists for the Lancers.  Neil contributed 12 points, a game-high six assists, and a career-high three steals, while Carter added 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench.  LU shot 52% (33-63) from the field, including 46% (11-24) on the three-pointers, and 72% (21-29) at the line.  The Lancers, fifth in Division I turnover margin (+6.2), forced 22 turnovers that were converted into 42 points with 15 steals.
   
Conner led UMES with his game-high 24 points (12-12 FT) off the bench.  Davis added 15 points (11-15 FT) and five assists for the Hawks, followed by Neal Pitt with 13 points and nine rebounds, and Gary Lee with 10 points.  UMES also shot 52% (23-44) from the field, including 50% (5-10) on three-pointers, and 78% (35-45) at the line as the 35 points at the charity stripe allowed them to keep the contest more competitive.
   
Longwood swept both games against UMES this season, including a 61-49 road win in Maryland back on November 22, and now leads the overall series 3-1.