February 11, 2010

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University won its fifth-straight men's basketball game with a 101-66 victory past visiting NAIA Virginia Intermont College Thursday night at Willett Hall in Farmville. The Lancers (9-16) were led by redshirt-senior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) with a career-high and game-high 27 points, adding 13 rebounds for his eighth double-double this year while sophomore Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) added his seventh double-double (third-straight) with 17 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. The Cobras (1-25) were led by Delonte McDaniel with 12 points off the bench. Longwood will play again on Saturday night, February 13, back on the road again at fellow Division I Independent North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina beginning at 7 p.m..

Longwood led from start to finish in the contest, though Virginia Intermont stayed close for much of the first half while trailing just 22-19 at 7:50. The Lancers, however, took control of the game with a 12-5 run to lead 34-24 at 4:00 as senior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) made a three-point field goal to close the spurt that included four points from Smith. LU stretched the lead to 44-31 at the intermission behind back-to-back three-pointers from sophomore Martiz Washington/Hopewell (Christchurch). Smith (13) and Carter (11) combined for 24 first-half points for the hosts.

Longwood quickly increased its advantage to 20 points in the second half, leading 62-42 after another three-pointer by Swecker with 14:58 remaining that followed nine quick points from Smith as well. The Lancers took their first 30-plus point margin at 88-57 with 5:18 on the clock as Washington made another three-pointer, and the LU reserves were able to expand the advantage down the stretch as sophomore Jan van der Kooij/Tiendeveen, The Netherlands (Roelof van Echten) scored seven points over the final 3:42. Smith added 14 second-half points before sitting down with 5:43 left, much to the delight of another great student turnout among the raucous crowd of 1,311.  Longwood has averaged an outstanding 1,353 in home attendance during the five games played in Willett Hall (1,807) this season while the students have been on campus.  The overall home attendance average through nine games is 959, but should rise above 1,000 once-again with three remaining home dates with the students on campus.

Smith led Longwood with his career-high and game-high 27 points, adding 13 rebounds for his eighth double-double this year. Smith also surpassed 1,400 career points and now totals 1,422 to rank sixth all-time, while his 673 career rebounds move him into second all-time. Carter added his seventh double-double (third-straight) with 17 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for the Lancers. Washington contributed 14 points, while senior Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond) had 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Swecker finished with nine points and a game-high six assists. LU shot 45% (37-83) from the field, including 26% (8-31) on three-pointers, and 73% (19-26) at the free throw line. The Lancers outscored Virginia Intermont 59-31 in the paint, and 25-9 on second chance opportunities with 26 offensive rebounds while out-rebounding them 57-32.

McDaniel led Virginia Intermont with his 12 points off the bench. Jordan Spurling added 10 points for the Cobras before fouling out at 4:18. VIC shot 43% (26-60) from the field, including 22% (4-18) on three-pointers, and 67% (10-15) at the line. The visitors also had 25 turnovers during the contest which Longwood converted into 24 points.

Longwood and Virginia Intermont were playing for only the third-time in the sport of men's basketball as the Lancers now lead the series at 3-0 with their victory.