February 8, 2010

BOX SCORE

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Longwood University won its fourth-straight men's basketball game Monday night, defeating host Fairleigh Dickinson University 83-81 on the road in Hackensack, New Jersey. The Lancers (8-16) won their third road game of the season, and second-straight, while led by redshirt-senior Dana Smith/Woodbridge, Va. (C.D. Hylton) and sophomore Martiz Washington/Hopewell (Christchurch) with 19 points each – a new career-high for Washington. The Knights (8-17) were led by Sean Baptiste with a game-high 30 points. Longwood returns home to host NAIA Virginia Intermont College on Thursday# night, February 11, at Willett Hall in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m..

Longwood jumped ahead early at Fairleigh Dickinson, leading 16-4 at 13:27 after back-to-back three-point field goals from senior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph). The Lancers continued the opening momentum and extended their advantage to 29-10 at 8:43 as Washington came off the bench to make three, three-pointers in less than two minutes. Washington's fourth three-pointer of the opening half made it 36-15 at 6:42, and the second-year player gave LU a comfortable 47-29 lead at the intermission with a jumper just ahead of the first-half buzzer. Washington (7-8 FG, 4-5 3FG, 1-1 FT) had his career-high 19 points in only 12 minutes of action in the opening half.

Longwood continued to score well to start the second half, taking a 65-37 lead with 13:58 remaining after an 18-8 run that started and ended with three-pointers from Swecker. Smith added six points during the run as well, while sophomore Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) added four quick points. Fairleigh Dickinson, however, battled back into the contest with a 14-0 run to close to within 65-51 at 7:11 as Mike Scott scored eight points. The Lancers seemed to regain control, though, and led 75-59 with 4:16 on the clock as Smith made two three-pointers and Carter scored twice inside. Smith's third three-pointer of the half made it 78-66 at 2:54 but the Knights fought back once-again, and closed to within 80-78 at 00:26 before Swecker made 3-4 free throws over the final 23-seconds to secure the road win as Baptiste made a three-pointer at the buzzer for the final margin. Smith scored 15 points in the second half, while Baptiste tallied 19 points after the break.

Smith (3-5 3FG) and Washington (4-6 3FG) led Longwood with 19 points each. Swecker added 15 points (4-8 3FG), and Carter had his sixth double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Lancers. Junior Aaron Mitchell/Matoaca (Manatee CC) (1-1 3FG) finished with 10 points. LU shot 48% (32-67) from the field, including a season-high 57% (12-21) on three-pointers, and 47% (7-15) at the free throw line. The 12 three-point field goals were a new season-high as well.

Baptiste led Fairleigh Dickinson with a game-high 30 points, while DeShawn Dockery had 15 points off the bench, and Alvin Mofunanya added a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Knights. FDU shot 51% (30-59) from the field, including 47% (8-17) on three-pointers, and 68% (13-19) at the line.

It was the first-ever meeting between the two schools as Longwood has its first two-game road win-streak during the same season as a Division I program.  The Lancers' only previous two-game road streak stretched over two seasons, including a win at Hampton late during 2005-06, and a win at Norfolk State early during 2006-07.