February 7, 2009

BOX SCORE

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Longwood University took a hard-fought 68-64 men's basketball road victory at Savannah State University Saturday afternoon in Savannah, Georgia. The Lancers (13-10) won their sixth-straight game and were led by redshirt-junior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) with a game-high double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, while junior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) also scored 18 points for the visitors.  The host Tigers (12-12) were led by Chris Linton with 14 points. Longwood, enjoying its finest season as a Division I program and best overall since 2002-03 (DII), will play again on Wednesday night, February 11, hosting the University of Texas-Pan American at Willett Hall in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m..
 
Longwood fell behind 6-0 at the start of the contest as Linton posted four quick points for Savannah State.  The Lancers, however, responded with 11 unanswered points of their own to lead 11-6 as Smith scored eight-straight points before freshman Martiz Washington/Hopewell (Christchurch) buried a three-point field goal from the right corner at 13:21.  The Tiger battled back, though, and led 14-13 at 9:57 on a dunk by Linton but LU again rallied back and took a 20-14 advantage at 8:04 as senior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) made a three-pointer followed by another three-pointer from sophomore Durann Neil/Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy) who added 1-2 free throws.  The game was tied at 25-25 after an 11-5 run by SSU that was capped by Linton's layup, and Savannah State led 29-27 at the intermission behind Linton's 12 first-half points.  Smith had 10 points at the break for the Lancers.
 
Longwood trailed 31-27 during the first minute of the second half before taking the lead for good at 18:25 (32-31) on a layup from Bogan that followed a three-pointer by Swecker.  The closely-played contest that featured seven lead-changes and five ties throughout remained close over the next 10 minutes as the Lancers led 51-50 with 8:39 left after two free throws by Savannah State. LU used a 9-2 run to lead 60-52 at 6:27 after a reverse layup from junior Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond).  Neil's jumper in the lane made it 64-56 with 4:53 on the clock, though it would prove to be the last field goal for the visitors.  The Tigers closed to within 64-62 with a layup at 1:17, but Longwood secured its first win in Savannah in four games with 4-4 free throws over the final 42-seconds as Robinson (0:42.4) and Smith (0:22.1) each converted bonus opportunities at the charity stripe.
 
Smith finished with his game-high double-double of 18 points (6-8 FT) and 11 rebounds to lead Longwood.  Swecker also had 18 points (4-7 3FG), including 13 points in the second half, added three steals for the Lancers.  Bogan added nine points, while Neil (game-high five assists) and Robinson each scored eight points.  LU shot 44% (23-52) from the field, including 37% (7-19) on three-point field goals, and 79% (15-19) at the free throw line. 
 
Linton finished with his 14 points to lead Savannah State.  Raye Bailey had 12 points, Jovonni Shuler had 11 points, and Anthony Jones added 10 points for the Tigers.  SSU shot 37% (20-54) from the field, including 9% (1-11) on three-pointers, and 79% (23-29) at the line.
 
Longwood swept both games against Savannah State this season after winning 86-76 in Farmville on January 17.  It was also the Lancers' first-ever win in Georgia against the Tigers in four games as SSU still leads the overall series at 5-3 since first playing in 2006.