January 12, 2010

BOX SCORE

VERMILLION, S.D. – Longwood University dropped a 75-63 men's basketball road decision at the University of South Dakota Tuesday night at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, South Dakota. The Lancers (4-14) were led by redshirt-senior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) with 19 points and nine rebounds before fouling out late. The Coyotes (8-8) were led by 6-8, 235-pound Tyler Cain with 20 points and 14 rebounds, and Roman Gentry with a game-high 21 points. Longwood will play again next Tuesday, January 19, remaining on the road at the University of Maryland of the Atlantic Coast Conference in College Park, Maryland beginning at 8 p.m..

Longwood led early at South Dakota, ahead 5-2 at 16:21 after a three-point field goal by Smith, and it was still a 24-22 advantage for the Lancers at 6:47 following a layup from sophomore Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg). The Coyotes, however, closed the half with a 10-5 run to lead 32-29 at the intermission as Cain (9) and Gentry (8) combined for 19 first-half points while Smith had 10 points at the break for the visitors.

South Dakota extended its lead to 52-42 with 13:43 on the clock as Cain scored seven quick points, including two thunderous dunks while a man amongst boys inside. Longwood, however, battled back against the odds with a 15-7 run to close to within 59-57 at 8:45 as five different players contributed, including four points from both Carter and junior Aaron Mitchell/Matoaca (Manatee CC). Additional highlights during this stretch included a no-call on an apparent goal tend and an inadvertent whistle nullifying two scores by the Lancers.  LU was still within 64-59 at 6:06 on another basket inside from senior Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond), but the Coyotes secured their home win by outscoring the visitors 11-4 over the final 5:44 with Gentry scoring five late points.

Smith led Longwood with his 19 points and nine rebounds before fouling out late. Carter finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Lancers – his third double-double this season off the bench. Mitchell added 12 points and six rebounds while Robinson had eight points. LU shot 38% (24-64) from the field, including 39% (5-13) on three-pointers, and 67% (10-15) at the free throw line.

Gentry led South Dakota with his game-high 21 points, adding seven rebounds. Cain had his double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Coyotes. Kendall Cutler added 12 points and five assists. USD shot 50% (27-54) from the field, including 20% (2-10) on three-pointers, and 61% (19-31) at the line where they had a huge advantage that could have even been more beneficial with better charity toss shooting. It was the first-ever meeting between the two schools.