11.22.2010

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University topped 100 points for the second time in three games Monday night en route to a 111-62 men's basketball victory past visiting NAIA member Montreat (N.C.) College at Willett Hall in Farmville. Senior Aaron Mitchell|Matoaca (Manatee CC) led four double-figure scorers for the host Lancers (3-2) with a career-high and game-high 25 points, while freshman Mark Parker|Clayton, N.C. (West Johnston) added a career-high 17 points off the bench, including 5-6 three-pointers, as LU won its ninth-straight home game, including the final six home-game wins from last year. Longwood has won three consecutive games at home this season where the team is averaging 103.3 points. Matt Rushing led the visiting Cavaliers (2-3) with 12 points. Longwood returns to action this Saturday afternoon, Nov. 27, on the road at Campbell University of the Atlantic Sun Conference in Buies Creek, North Carolina with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m.

Longwood took its first lead at 6-4 with 17:33 left in the first half on a layup from redshirt-junior Durann Neil|Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy), and the Lancers allowed Montreat to stay close for about seven minutes, leading just 17-15 at 13:05 before a 19-2 run made it 36-17 at 7:33. The outburst included points from seven different players, including four points each from Mitchell and junior Antwan Carter|St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg), and a three-point field goal by Neil as the hosts never looked back. LU?led by as many as 22 points during the first half on three occasions before settling for a 53-32 lead at the intermission. Mitchell scored 17 first-half points, Carter already had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and junior transfer Jeremiah Bowman|Washington, D.C. (Harcum JC) had nine points and four assists at the break.

Longwood quickly extended the advantage to over 30 points, beginning the second half with a 17-6 run to lead 70-38 with 14:14 left to play as Mitchell tallied six more points before junior Martiz Washington|Hopewell (Christchurch) and Neil made back-to-back three-pointers to close the spree. The Lancers played their reserves over the final 10-plus minutes, though there was no let-up as the hosts took an 87-47 lead at 9:34 on a three-pointer from freshman David Robinson|Chesterfield (Cosby) that followed a trio of three-pointers by Parker. It was 100-50 with 3:55 left on the clock after a jump-hook inside by freshman Jeff Havenstein|Mt. Airy, Md. (Linganore), and a jumper from freshman Jeylani Dublin|Brooklyn, N.Y. (Millbrook School) provided for the largest lead of the night at 108-54 at 2:11. Montreat called three timeouts over the final 1:10 en route to the final 49-point margin.

“It was a fantastic team effort tonight by everyone,” said eighth-year head coach Mike Gillian.

Mitchell finished with his career-high and game-high 25 points in 24 minutes to lead Longwood. Parker finished with his career-high 17 points off the bench, including 5-6 three-pointers, in 16 minutes for the Lancers. Carter added his third-straight double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds, Neil had 11 points and five assists, and Bowman finished with nine points and five assists with no turnovers for the hosts. LU shot 53.2% (41-77) from the field, including 43.3% (13-30) on three-pointers, and 76.2% (16-21) at the free throw line.

Rushing finished with his 12 points to lead Montreat, and Dustin Harris had 11 points off the bench for the Cavaliers. MC shot 35.7% (25-70) from the field, including 17.6% (3-17) on three-pointers, and 56.3% (9-16) at the line.

Longwood and Montreat were playing for the first-time in the sport of men's basketball. The Cavaliers had previously dropped Division I games this season at East Carolina (85-58), Appalachian State (101-71), and Charleston Southern (103-85).

Quotes from Aaron Mitchell: "It was a good performance tonight with a great defensive effort.  We continue to rebound well as a team."

Quotes from Mark Parker: "We played really well as a team.  Everyone is still learning about strengths and weaknesses.  The atmosphere was really good as we have a great fanbase."

NOTE FROM THE LONGWOOD TICKET OFFICE
A limited number of tickets are still on sale for the home game against James Madison on Wednesday, December 1st at 7:00 p.m. Due to the high demand for the tickets to the JMU game, the Athletic Ticket Office in Willett Hall will be opened next Wednesday, December 1st from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. for fans to purchase tickets to the game. The ticket office will re-open 90 minutes prior to the start of the game at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the ticket office or via www.longwoodlancers.com. Reserved seats for this game are sold out. Adult general admission tickets are $7.00 and youth general admission tickets are $4.00. For more information on how to get tickets or for group rates, please call 434-395-2138 or email: lancers@longwood.edu.