Box Score 11.25.2011

BOX SCORE

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Longwood University took a 70-67 men's basketball victory past Prairie View A&M University of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Friday afternoon at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois during the Chicago Invitational Challenge.  The Lancers (2-4) led most of the game before falling behind 63-61 with 1:23 remaining, but responded with a game-ending 9-4 run over the final 1:08 for the win.  LU was led by senior Antwan Carter|St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) with a game-high 18 points and classmate Jeremiah Bowman|Washington, D.C. (Harcum JC) with 16 points.  The Panthers (2-4) were led by Jourdan Demuynck with a game-high 18 points.  Longwood will play in the exempt tournament's Upper Division Championship game on Saturday afternoon, November 26, against UMKC of The Summit League at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois beginning at 3 p.m. ET.

“The things I talked about after the Nevada game -- patience, determination, composure were all there again today in a different capacity -- we were playing from ahead instead of coming from behind,” said ninth-year head coach Mike Gillian.  “The experiences we have had to this point in the season were a big factor in us playing well during the last few minutes and securing a hard-fought win.  We have to enjoy the feeling of success, then quickly put it in the rearview mirror and get ready to play for a championship tomorrow afternoon.”

Longwood led early at 12-7 with 14:51 left in the first half after a layup from senior Martiz Washington|Hopewell (Christchurch), along with six quick points from Carter.  It was 17-10 at 11:31 following a three-point field goal by sophomore Mark Parker|Clayton, N.C. (West Johnston), but Prairie View used a 17-5 run to take a 27-22 lead with 3:04 left until halftime.  Ryan Gesiakowski (8 points) and Demuynck (6 points) sparked the outburst by the Panthers.  The Lancers, however, answered with their own 13-2 half-ending run to lead 35-29 at the intermission as Parked made two more three-pointers.

Longwood scored the first four points of the second half to take its largest lead at 39-29 with 18:40 remaining after a jumper by sophomore transfer Tristan Carey|Colonial Beach (La Salle) and two free throws from Carter.  Prairie View again rallied back with a 12-2 run to tie it at 41-41 with 15:18 left.  The Lancers led 48-44 after a three-pointer by Washington at 12:42, but the Panthers went back in front 50-48 on a conventional three-point play by Demuynck at 10:22.  LU battled back and led 58-53 with 6:27 on the clock after a jumper from sophomore David Robinson|Chesterfield (Cosby).  PVAMU again rallied and took its final lead at 63-61 on a pair of free throws from Demuynck at 1:23.  Fortunately, Longwood was able to secure the triumph with its closing run that included an old-fashioned three-point play by Bowman (1:08) to go ahead for good, followed by a clutch three-pointer from Washington (0:45), a layup by Robinson (0:26), and 1-2 free throws from Robinson with four-seconds on the clock.  Prairie View missed a potential game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer.

Carter led Longwood with his game-high 18 points, adding seven rebounds, four assists, and one block.  Bowman added 16 points, six assists, four rebounds, and four steals, while Washington had 12 points and four rebounds.  Parker contributed nine points off the bench, Carey had eight points, and Robinson added seven points off the bench.  LU shot 45% (28-62) from the field, including 37% (7-19) on three-pointers, and 70% (7-10) at the free throw line.

Demuynck led Prairie View A&M with his game-high 18 points, adding seven rebounds.  Gesiakowski added 11 points off the bench, Montrael Scott had 10 points off the bench as well, and Jules Montgomery contributed a game-high 16 rebounds for the Panthers.  PVAMU shot 35% (24-68) from the field, including 39% (7-18) on three-pointers, and 57% (12-21) at the line.

It was the first meeting between the two schools in men's basketball, a contest that featured 11 lead changes and eight ties throughout the 40 minutes.

UMKC defeated Wofford 64-58 in overtime in the second game played on Friday near Chicago.