February 19, 2010

SAVANNAH STATE GAME NOTES (PDF)

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University will host fellow Division I Independent Savannah State University in men's basketball action Saturday afternoon, February 20, at 2 p.m. in Willett Hall (1,807) on-campus in Farmville. The Lancers and Tigers are meeting for the 10th-time overall since 2006, and for the second time this season as SSU earned a 68-66 win in Georgia on January 23 with four free throws in the last 2.1-seconds. Longwood (10-17) is coached by seventh-year head coach Mike Gillian, and will be led by redshirt-senior Dana Smith who is averaging 17.8 points and 7.2 rebounds. Savannah State (10-14) is coached by fifth-year head coach Horace Broadnax and is led by senior guard Tracy Rankins (12.6 points).  It's the annual NCAA® Men's Basketball Take A Kid to the Game® (ages 3-18, $1), while also designated “The Gray Storm” as all fans are encouraged to wear gray. Tickets remain and will be available at the Willett Hall Ticket Office or by calling 434.395.2138.

Series History
Longwood and Savannah State have played nine times over the past five seasons with the Tigers enjoying a 6-3 lead in the closely-played series as four of the outcomes (all in favor of SSU) have been decided by three points or less. SSU won the first meeting this year in Georgia (1.23) by a score of 68-66, making four free throws in the final 2.1-seconds to earn the homecourt win. Dana Smith led the Lancers with a game-high 20 points, while Antwan Carter added 17 points. Patrick Hardy scored a season-high 17 points for Savannah State, followed by Preston Blackmon with 13 points and Tracy Rankins with 12 points.

A Look Savannah State
Savannah State, a Division I Independent, is coached by fifth-year head coach Horace Broadnax. The Tigers have a record of 10-14 after their 82-68 road win at Stetson on Monday (2.15). SSU is led by senior Tracy Rankins (12.6 points) and sophomore Rashad Hassan (11.2 points, 5.3 rebounds), while also expected in the lineup are senior Patrick Hardy (7.1 points), sophomore Arnold Louis (8.7 points, 7.7 rebounds), and freshman Preston Blackmon (6.5 points). Rankins led the way at SU with 24 points while Hassan added 18 points. Savannah State averages 57.5 points including its season-high of 82 points earlier this week at Stetson.

A Look At Longwood
Longwood is 10-17 after its 96-77 home win past Southern Virginia on Wednesday (2.17). The Lancers are led by redshirt-senior Dana Smith who has averaged 17.8 points and 7.2 rebounds, along with sophomore Antwan Carter who is averaging 14.8 points and 8.4 rebounds. Also in the lineup are seniors #E.J. Dawson# (3.6 points, 3.4 assists) and Kevin Swecker (8.1 points, 48 3FG), with junior Aaron Mitchell (9.1 points, 3.2 assists). Swecker led the way against SVU with a season-high 19 points while perfect shooting the ball (7-7 FG, 5-5 3FG). Smith had 17 points, sophomore Martiz Washington added 14 points (4-8 3FG) off the bench, Mitchell contributed 13 points and a career-high nine assists, while Carter and Dawson each added 12 points -- a career-high for Dawson. LU averages 73.3 points with a season-high of 112 points at home this season against Washington Adventist (1.30).

NCAA® Men's Basketball Take A Kid to the Game® & The Gray Storm
This game has been designated the annual NCAA® Men's Basketball Take A Kid to the Game® as all youth ages three to 18 will receive a ticket for $1 with an adult ticket as well.  It's also been designated “The Gray Storm” with all students and fans encouraged to wear gray to the contest.

Home Sweet Home
Longwood is 41-20 (.672) at home in Willett Hall over the past four-plus seasons, including a 7-3 mark this year following a 13-2 home record last season. The Lancers were 7-5 during 2007-08, 8-4 during 2005-06, while 6-6 during 2006-07. Longwood is 245-129 (.655) all-time (29-plus seasons) in Willett Hall. The Lancers have averaged 85.9 points during its 10 games (7-3) at home this season, shooting 46.7% from the field, including 35.2% on three-point field goals, and 67.5% at the free throw line as opposed to their 65.9 points (41.3% FG, 31.9% 3FG, 61.1% FT) during the 17 games (3-12 away, 0-2 neutral) played away from Farmville. Longwood has averaged an outstanding 1,313 in home attendance during the six (5-1) games played in Willett Hall (1,807) this season while the students have been on campus. The Lancers' overall home attendance average through 10 games is 975, but should rise above 1,000 with two remaining home dates with the students on campus, including today's game versus Savannah State.