February 25, 2010
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University took an 83-69 men's basketball home victory past visiting North Carolina Central University Thursday night at Willett Hall in Farmville. The Lancers (12-18) led 43-31 at halftime on Senior Night and never looked back while led by redshirt-senior
Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) who surpassed 1,500 career points (1,520, 4th all-time) and 700 career rebounds (704, 2nd) with game-highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds for his 10th double-double this year. The Eagles (7-22) were led by Vincent Davis with 25 points. Longwood avenged an 81-78 loss at N.C. Central earlier this month (Feb. 13), and will play its final game of the season on Monday night, March 1, on the road at Hampton University beginning at 7 p.m..
Longwood scored the first points of the game on a layup from Smith at 19:13 before N.C. Central took an early 13-9 lead at 13:01 as Nick Chasten scored six quick points. The Lancers responded with a 19-6 run to take control and lead 28-19 at 7:32 as Smith scored nine points and junior
Earl Gee II/Richmond (Manchester) came off the bench to score seven points. LU extended its advantage to as many as 14 points at 43-29 before taking the 43-31 lead at the intermission. Smith finished the half with 13 points and seven rebounds as the hosts shot 57% (17-30) from the field during the opening 20 minutes.
Longwood extended its margin even further to start the second half, leading 55-38 at 14:35 as Smith scored eight more points. It was 57-42 at 11:01 on a layup from sophomore
Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg), and 67-53 at 7:24 on a three-point field goal by senior
Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond). The Eagles managed to close to within 69-61 at 5:42 on a three-pointer from Davis but a three-pointer from senior
Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) at 2:37 made it 78-62, capping a 9-2 run to secure the outcome. Swecker hit another jumper at 1:33 to make it 80-64 en route to the final margin much to the delight of the extremely supportive student section, especially, and vocal home crowd of 1,425.
Smith led Longwood with his game-highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds for his 10th double-double while surpassing the career milestones. He is only the second player in the program's history to surpass 1,500 career points and 700 career rebounds; Jerome Kersey is the other with 1,756 career points (2nd) and a school-record 1,162 career rebounds. Swecker finished with 13 points for the Lancers, and Carter had his ninth double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Robinson contributed nine points and two blocks, and senior #E.J. Dawson#/Alexandria (Mount Vernon) added six points and a game-high seven assists. Gee finished with nine points (4-4 FG, 1-1 3FG) as well for the hosts, matching his career-high in just eight minutes off the bench. LU shot 55% (30-55) from the field, including 43% (9-21) on three-pointers, and 67% (14-21) at the free throw line. The Lancers forced 21 turnovers that they converted into 26 points.
Davis led North Carolina Central with his 25 points. C.J. Wilkerson added 22 points for the Eagles. NCCU shot 41% (24-59) from the field, including 31% (4-13) on three-pointers, and 63% (17-27) at the line.
Longwood and N.C. Central were playing for the seventh-time as the Lancers now lead the series at 5-2. Longwood's 12 wins this season are its second-highest total since beginning Division I scheduling in 2004-05, only behind last year's final record of 17-14.
It was the final home game for Smith, Swecker, Robinson Jr., and Dawson as each was recognized during pre-game ceremonies. Longwood finished 9-3 (.750) at home this season while averaging 1,033 in home attendance, including 1,316 with the students on-campus. The Lancers are 43-20 (.683) at Willett Hall over the past five seasons, including 22-5 (.815) over the last two campaigns.
