1.9.11

BOX SCORE

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Longwood University dropped a 90-74 men's basketball decision on the road Sunday night at the University of North Dakota of the Great West Conference in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The Lancers (6-14) trailed 44-33 at halftime, and were within 82-70 with 4:43 remaining while led by junior Jan van der Kooij|Tiendeveen, The Netherlands (Roelof van Echten) with a career-high 20 points. Josh Schuler led the Fighting Sioux (6-9) with a game-high 21 points. Longwood will now take nine days off and will not play again until Tuesday, January 18, hosting the New Jersey Institute of Technology, also of the Great West Conference, at Willett Hall in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m.

Longwood started well at North Dakota, taking an early 17-9 lead at 14:08 following a three-point field goal by redshirt-junior Durann Neil|Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy). The Lancers led 21-14 at 11:06 after a baseline jumper from junior Antwan Carter|St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg), but the Fighting Sioux responded with a game-changing 18-2 run to take control with 6:00 left in the first half while ahead 32-23. UND received scoring from seven different players during the outburst. LU answered with six-straight points and was within 32-29 at 2:57 as junior Jeremiah Bowman|Washington, D.C. (Harcum JC) made two free throws. The hosts, however, closed the half with a 12-4 run to lead 44-33 at the intermission -- getting a three-pointer just ahead of the first-half buzzer.

Longwood reduced the deficit to 50-41 early in the second half after a three-pointer by van der Kooij at 15:50. North Dakota again answered, this time with an 11-2 run with points from four different players, to extend the advantage to 61-43 with 13:18 on the clock. The Lancers were dealt another blow at 12:39 when Carter was whistled for his fifth foul and disqualification. The Fighting Sioux took their largest lead at 80-58 with 6:49 left before LU made one final run to cause a little uneasiness for the hosts. The visitors outscored UND 12-2 in less than two minutes with an old-fashioned three-point play from senior Earl Gee II|Chesterfield (Manchester), two three-pointers by Neil, and a three-pointer from freshman David Robinson|Chesterfield (Cosby) that made it 82-70 at 4:47. Schuler scored four quick points, though, and North Dakota secured the win.

van der Kooij finished with his career-high 20 points to lead Longwood. Bowman had 16 points and five rebounds off the bench for the Lancers. Neil added 11 points, while senior Aaron Mitchell|Matoaca (Manatee CC) had 10 points and four assists. 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.

Schuler finished with his game-high 21 points to lead North Dakota. Troy Huff had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Fighting Sioux. Patrick Mitchell contributed 13 points, and Brandon Brekke added 10 points. UND shot 54.5% (30-55) from the field, including 41.7% (5-12) on three-pointers, and 89.3% (25-28) at the line. The Fighting Sioux shot their season-best percentage from the field (55%) while posting their highest single-game point total of the season as well, easily surpassing the 77 points they scored against Waldorf College in their season-opener.

Longwood and North Dakota were playing for the first-time in the sport of men's basketball. The Fighting Sioux will return the game in Farmville next season during 2011-12.