12.23.2010

BOX SCORE

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Longwood University defeated South Carolina State University 90-73 in men's basketball Thursday afternoon for seventh-place during the 2010 iBN Sports|Las Vegas Classic at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lancers (4-11) stopped a nine-game losing streak while led by junior Antwan Carter|St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) with a game-high and career-high 30 points, adding a game-high 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double this season. The Bulldogs (4-8) of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference lost their sixth-straight game while led by Darnell Porter with 16 points. Carter scored 19 first-half points as LU led 44-32 at halftime, and the Lancers shot 62% from the field in the second half en route to victory. Longwood will break for the Christmas holiday before returning to action next Wednesday, December 29, hosting the College of William and Mary of the Colonial Athletic Association at Willett Hall in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m.

Longwood scored the first five points of the game as junior Jan van der Kooij|Tiendeveen, The Netherlands (Roelof van Echten) made two free throws before the opening tip after SCSU was assessed a technical foul for dunking during the pre-game warm-ups, and junior transfer Jeremiah Bowman|Washington, D.C. (Harcum JC) followed with a conventional three-point play at 17:52. The Bulldogs responded with an 11-3 run to lead 11-8 at 13:50 as Khalif Toombs scored five points. The Lancers, however, battled back with a 20-10 run to lead 28-21 at 4:59 after the first three-point field goal of the year by Carter who had 11 of the points. LU continued with its momentum and expanded the lead to 42-28 at 1:57 following a three-pointer from junior Martiz Washington|Hopewell (Christchurch), and led 44-32 at the intermission.

Longwood allowed SCSU to close to within 44-37 at 18:57 while scoring the first five points of the second half, but the Lancers answered with an 11-2 run to take control at 55-39 with 14:14 remaining after another layup by Carter who scored five quick points. LU steadily built its advantage to 20-plus points, and led 70-49 at 7:59 when Carter scored inside once-again. The Lancers had their largest lead at 22 points on two occasions, 77-55 at 6:25 on a three-pointer from van der Kooij, and 89-67 at 1:30 on a layup by Bowman toward the final margin of victory.

Carter led Longwood with his game-high and career-high 30 points (13-19 FGs), adding his game-high 10 rebounds for his 20th career double-double. Carter earned All-Tournament honors for his efforts in the four-game exempt event, averaging 21.8 points and 7.0 rebounds. Redshirt-junior Durann Neil|Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy) finished with a season-high 17 points, and a game-high and career-high three steals for the Lancers. Bowman added 14 points and six assists, and van der Kooij had 13 points, five rebounds, and a career-high five assists. LU shot 55.9% (33-59) from the field, including 52.6% (10-19) on three-pointers, and 66.7% (14-21) at the free throw line. Longwood played without senior Aaron Mitchell|Matoaca (Manatee CC), a starting guard and the team's second-leading scorer (12.8), who was injured in Wednesday's game.

Porter led SCSU with his 16 points. Omar Sanders added 14 points, Toombs finished with 13 points as did Joe Ikhinmwin off the bench for the Bulldogs. SCSU shot 47.5% (28-59) from the field, including 26.3% (5-19) on three-pointers, and 70.6% (12-17) at the line.

It was only the third-ever meeting between the two schools in the sport of men's basketball as Longwood defeated South Carolina State for the first time.

Longwood was making its third appearance in the Las Vegas Classic (2004, 2006), and their fourth overall tournament appearance in Nevada, including the 2008 Las Vegas Invitational. The Lancers are now 4-2 in games played at the Orleans Arena, including the 2006 Findlay Toyota|Las Vegas Classic Lower Bracket Championship along with a seventh-place finish in 2008.