1.4.2011

BOX SCORE

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Longwood University dropped an 87-70 men's basketball decision on the road Tuesday night at Navy of the Patriot League in Annapolis, Maryland. The Lancers (5-13) led 38-30 at halftime, and the game was tied at 60-60 with less than eight minutes remaining before the Midshipmen (5-11) closed the game with a 27-10 run over the final 7:14. Junior Antwan Carter|St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) led LU with a game-high 28 points, including 16 second-half points. Jordan Sugars led Navy with 20 points, including 18 second-half points when the Midshipmen shot 69% (20-29) from the floor while 10-10 on free throws as well after halftime. Longwood will play again on Thursday night, January 6, hosting the University of South Dakota of the Great West Conference at Willett Hall in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m.

Longwood scored the first five points of the game as redshirt-junior Durann Neil|Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy) made two baskets, including a three-point field goal, during the opening 1:56. It was 7-2 after a layup from senior Aaron Mitchell|Matoaca (Manatee CC) at 17:28 before Navy fought back with nine unanswered points to lead 11-7 at 14:14. The Lancers scored the next 10 points to lead 17-11 at 11:45 as Neil made another three-pointer, as did junior Martiz Washington| Hopewell (Christchurch). It was 26-18 at 5:26 after a jumper from Carter, and LU had its largest first-half lead at 38-28 with 1:16 left in the half following another three-pointer by Washington. The Midshipmen, however, scored at the first-half buzzer on a basket inside by Sugars -- his first points of the game -- to make it 38-30 at the intermission.

Longwood took its largest lead of the contest early in the second half at 45-34 with 18:01 left on a layup by Neil. Navy again responded and battled back with a 12-1 run to tie it at 46-46 with 14:37 on the clock as J.J. Avila scored seven points and Sugars added five points. The Midshipmen extended their run to 21-5 to lead 55-50 at 11:32 before the Lancers rallied back to take a 60-57 lead at 8:44 after back-to-back three-pointers from Carter. Unfortunately, LU was outscored 30-10 over the final 8:14 as Navy made 8-10 shots from the field, including 4-5 three-pointers, and 10-10 free throws; Sugars was 4-4 with three triples.

Carter led Longwood with his game-high 28 points, adding seven rebounds and three assists. Mitchell and Neil each had 13 points, with Mitchell adding a game-high 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Neil contributed six assists as well, while Washington added nine points and five assists. LU shot 50.0% (27-54) from the field, including 38.1% (8-21) on three-pointers, and 72.7% (8-11) at the free throw line. The Lancers had 26 turnovers that were converted into 34 points by the hosts.

Sugars led Navy with his 20 points, and Avila finished with 19 points. O.J. Avworo had 12 points, and Greg Brown added 10 points off the bench. Navy shot 46.8% (29-62) from the field, including 29.6% (8-27) on three-pointers, and 87.5% (21-24) at the line. The Midshipmen bench outscored the LU bench 22-2.

It was the eighth meeting between the two schools in the sport of men's basketball as Navy now leads the series 8-0.