12.29.2010

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University defeated the College of William and Mary 83-81 in men's basketball Wednesday night at Willett Hall in Farmville. The Lancers (5-11) won their second-straight game while rallying from a 42-36 halftime deficit and defeated the Tribe (4-8) for the first-time-ever in four contests since 2004 while led by junior Martiz Washington|Hopewell (Christchurch) with 20 points, including five three-point field goals, and classmate Jeremiah Bowman|Washington, D.C. (Harcum JC) with 18 points. William and Mary of the Colonial Athletic Association lost its third consecutive game while led by Quinn McDowell with a game-high and career-high 30 points, including 18 points in the first half. Longwood will remain at home while returning to action this Sunday afternoon, January 2, 2011, hosting Colgate University (0-11) of the Patriot League at Willett Hall in Farmville beginning at 2 p.m.

Longwood led 3-2 early at 18:17 after a three-pointer from Washington before W&M used a 12-5 run to lead 14-8 at 13:42 as four different players scored for the visitors. The Lancers battled back to within 14-13 with five-straight points as Washington made another three-pointer and senior Aaron Mitchell|Matoaca (Manatee CC) added a layup. The Tribe again extended their advantage, this time to 32-20 at 6:07 as McDowell tallied 10 points. It was 40-28 at 1:56 after a jumper from Brandon Britt before LU closed the half with an 8-2 run to close to within 42-36 at the intermission after Bowman made two three-pointers in the final 1:41 of the period.

Longwood allowed W&M to lead by nine points early in the second half at 48-39 with 18:27 remaining as Marcus Kitts scored four quick points. The Lancers, however, fought back with a 14-4 run to take a 53-52 at 14:52 following a three-pointer by redshirt-junior Durann Neil|Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy), and nine quick points from Washington on two more three-pointers and an old-fashioned three-point play as well. The Tribe once-again answered and took a 60-53 advantage with 12:33 on the clock as three players scored. LU responded yet again and led 64-63 with 8:00 left and did not trail again after back-to-back layups from junior Antwan Carter|St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg), and the hosts extended the margin to 68-63 at 6:42 following a layup from Mitchell and another Carter basket inside. W&M managed to tie the game at 70-70 with 5:06 left on a deep three-pointer from McDowell, but Longwood put the game away with a 9-2 run to lead 79-72 at 3:01 as Mitchell scored six quick points and junior Jan van der Kooij|Tiendeveen, The Netherlands (Roelof van Echten) made a three-pointer at the end of the shot-clock to close the decisive spurt with the dagger. The hosts secured the outcome with 4-7 free throws over the final 21-seconds around an uncontested layup and a literal last-second desperation three-pointer by W&M.

"We certainly played better on offense in the second half, and controlled the pace of play," explained eighth-year head coach Mike Gillian. "That's our first win against William and Mary, but it's another win against a CAA team, or a team at a level that we're not at yet. What we did tonight is prove that, at this point in time, we are a competitive-equal to William and Mary."

Washington led Longwood with his 20 points (5-9 3FGs), including 11 first-half points, adding a career-high six assists. Bowman finished with 18 points and five assists for the Lancers. Carter added 17 points (7-10 FGs), eight rebounds, and three assists despite being double- and sometimes triple-teamed for much of the night. Mitchell had 12 points off the bench after receiving medical clearance to play just before tip-off after missing the last game and not practicing for the last seven days due to a wrist injury. LU shot 55.4% (31-56) from the field, including 45.8% (11-24) on three-pointers, and 66.7% (10-15) at the free throw line. The Lancers only committed eight turnovers in the contest, their second-lowest total of the season.

McDowell led W&M with his game-high and career-high 30 points (11-14 FGs). Britt added 15 points, and Kitts finished with 12 points for the Tribe. Kyle Gaillard grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for the visitors. W&M shot 56.9% (33-58) from the field, including 29.2% (7-24) on three-pointers, and 80.0% (8-10) at the line.

It was only the fourth meeting between the two schools in the sport of men's basketball since 2004 as Longwood defeated William and Mary for the first time. It was an enthusiastic and appreciative holiday-crowd of 1,339 that enjoyed the Lancers' triumph.

Quote from junior Antwan Carter: "We knew we could get our shots, and we just needed to make some stops at the other end of the floor."

Quote from junior Jeremiah Bowman: "We just picked-up our energy level on defense in the second half, slowing them down, and we played well as a team which is how we have to play to win games."