1.17.2011

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University is hosting the New Jersey Institute of Technology of the Great West Conference for a men's college basketball contest on Tuesday night, January 18, beginning at 7 p.m. at Willett Hall in Farmville.  The Lancers (6-14) will look for their fourth win in seven games and are coached by Mike Gillian, and led by junior Antwan Carter|St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) (17.0 points, 9.1 rebounds).  The Highlanders (5-10) are looking for their fourth consecutive win and are coached by Jim Engles, and led by senior Jheryl Wilson (12.1 points, 4.6 rebounds).  It's the first home game with Longwood students on campus since the James Madison contest back on December 1 when a record-crowd of 1,963 witnessed a nationally-televised game on Fox College Sports.  For ticket information, please call the Longwood University Athletics Ticket Office at 434.395.2138.

GAME DETAILS
Date: January 18, 2011
Site: Farmville, Va.
Facility: Willett Hall (1,807)
Tip: 7 p.m.
Game Notes (pdf)
Radio: WVHL-FM 92.9
Talent: Scott Bacon
Internet: TEAMLINE
Live Stats
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Series: 5-2, Longwood

Series History
Longwood and NJIT are meeting for the eighth time in the sport of men's basketball. The Lancers lead the series at 5-2 since first playing in 2007, and have won five-straight in the series after the Highlanders took the first two meetings between the two schools. LU defeated NJIT 64-55 last February 6 in Newark, New Jersey as junior Antwan Carter posted 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, and senior Aaron Mitchell had 10 points. Chris Flores led the hosts with 17 points, and Jheryl Wilson added 16 points.

A Look At NJIT
NJIT is coached by Jim Engles (16-61), and is 5-10 after a 96-84 home win past Houston Baptist (1.15). The Highlanders are led by senior Jheryl Wilson (12.1 points, 4.6 rebounds) and junior Isaiah Wilkerson (12.1 points, 5.5 rebounds), along with sophomore Chris Flores (11.5 points) and freshman Lamar Kearse (10.3 points, off the bench). Expected to start as well are sophomore PJ Miller (6.5 points) and junior Ryan Regis (3.0 points). NJIT averages 67.1 points while shooting 44% from the field, including 36% on three-point field goals, and 60% at the line; allowing 70.1 points.

A Look At Longwood
Longwood is 6-14 after a 90-74 road loss at North Dakota (1.9). The Lancers are led by junior Antwan Carter (17.0 points, 9.1 rebounds), senior Aaron Mitchell (12.6 points, 5.5 rebounds), and junior Jeremiah Bowman (11.7 points, 4.5 assists). Also expected to start are redshirt-junior Durann Neil (9.3 points) and junior Jan van der Kooij (7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds). Longwood averages 75.8 points while shooting 45% from the field, including 37% on three-pointers, and 67% at the line; allowing 85.9 points.

Longwood Head Coach
Mike Gillian (North Adams State '86) was named the seventh head coach for men's basketball at Longwood on May 2, 2003. He had been an assistant coach for Jim Larranaga at George Mason for six years (1997-2003) after a year with Coach Larranaga at Bowling Green State (1996-97). A native of Ayer, Massachusetts, Gillian is 69-163 at Longwood. The 2008-09 team finished with a 17-14 record as Gillian earned 2009 Independent Coach of the Year honors from CollegeInsider.com. He had back-to-back 9-22 seasons during the previous two years (2007-08, 2006-07), those efforts following a record of 10-20 (2005-06) that tied for Division I's seventh-best turnaround season that year.

Last Time Out
Longwood dropped a 90-74 road decision at North Dakota in Grand Forks. The Lancers trailed 44-33 at halftime, and were within 82-70 with 4:43 remaining, while led by junior Jan van der Kooij with a career-high 20 points. Junior Jeremiah Bowman had 16 points and five rebounds off the bench. Redshirt-junior Durann Neil added 11 points, while senior Aaron Mitchell had 10 points and four assists. Junior Antwan Carter had eight points, four rebounds, and three assists in 20 minutes before fouling out, only the second time this season he did not reach double-figure scoring. LU shot 44.6% (25-56) from the field, including 40.0% (8-20) on three-pointers, and 80.0% (16-20) at the free throw line.

Division I Statistics
Through January 16, Longwood ranked 20th nationally in assists (16.8), 28th in three-point field goals per game (8.3), 46th in scoring (75.9), 85th in three-point field goal percentage (36.7), and 92nd in assist|turnover ratio (1.07). Individually, Antwan Carter ranked 20th in double-doubles (8), 21st in field goal percentage (57.4), 46th in rebounds (9.1), and 89th in scoring (17.0). Martiz Washington ranked 51st in three-point field goal percentage (39.8), and 61st in three-point field goals (2.7). Jeremiah Bowman ranked 88th in assists (4.5).

Home Sweet Home
Longwood is 48-23 (.676) at home in Willett Hall over the past five-plus seasons, including 5-3 this year after a 9-3 mark last season that followed a 13-2 home record during 2008-09. The Lancers were 7-5 in 2007-08, 8-4 in 2005-06, while 6-6 in 2006-07. Longwood is 252-132 (.656) all-time (30-plus seasons) in Willett Hall. LU is averaging 1,121 in overall home attendance this year (1,384 w/students), and averaged 1,316 during the eight (7-1) games played in Willett Hall last season while students were on campus. Overall, the Lancers' attendance average at home during 2009-10 was 1,033 to surpass 1,000 for the second-straight season (1,119 during 2008-09). Longwood averaged a school-record 1,173 during 2000-01 when capacity was 2,522, including a season-best 2,213 against former Division II rival Queens (N.C.).