Box Score 12.23.2011

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped an 87-61 men's basketball decision to visiting Seton Hall University of the BIG EAST Conference Friday night at Willett Hall in Farmville.  The Lancers (4-8) took an early 17-6 lead just 4:47 into the contest before the talented Pirates (11-1) responded and led 45-33 at halftime en route to their eighth-straight win.  LU was led by senior Antwan Carter|St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) with 20 points and nine rebounds, and classmate Jan van der Kooij|Tiendeveen, The Netherlands (Roelof van Echten) with a season-high 19 points and seven rebounds.  SHU was led by Jordan Theodore with a career-high and game-high 26 points, and Fuquan Edwin with 20 points to tie his career-high.  Longwood will play again next week, December 29-30, at the Dr. Pepper Classic hosted by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga against host Chattanooga of the Southern Conference on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 7 p.m.

Longwood made six of its first eight shots, including five three-point field goals -- three by van der Kooij, to take an early 17-6 lead at 15:13.  A stunned Seton Hall team, however, settled down and scored 10 unanswered points to close to within 17-16 at 10:56 as Edwin scored five quick points.  The Lancers added yet another three-pointer as sophomore David Robinson|Chesterfield (Cosby) connected at 10:41 for a 20-16 lead before the Pirates scored five-straight points to take their first lead at 21-20 with 9:25 on the first-half clock.  LU was still within 28-26 at 6:50 on van der Kooij's fourth three-pointer of the half, but SHU closed the period with a 17-7 run to lead 45-33 at the intermission.  van der Kooij had 15 points at the break, and Carter had 12 points despite earning his third foul just 5:41 into the game; ironically, Carter collected Longwood's first three team fouls of the contest, and the flow of the game definitely turned at that point in the game ...  Theodore and Edwin each had 13 points at halftime for the visitors.

Longwood closed the margin a couple of times in the second half, and was within 46-36 at 18:27 on a three-pointer by
sophomore transfer Tristan Carey|Colonial Beach (La Salle), later within 68-56 at 9:24 left on a basket from senior Jeremiah Bowman|Washington, D.C. (Harcum JC).  Seton Hall, though, had an answer each time behind the outstanding play of Theodore who gave the Pirates their first 20-point margin at 79-58 with two free throws at 3:38.  SHU outscored the Lancers 8-3 the rest of the way for the final margin, its largest on the night.

Carter led Longwood with his 20 points, adding nine rebounds while in foul trouble and out-playing Seton Hall NBA prospect Herb Pope.  van der Kooij finished with a season-high 19 points, including 4-7 three-pointers, adding seven rebounds.  Bowman contributed seven points and a game-high six assists.  LU shot 43% (23-54) from the field, including 41% (9-22) on three-pointers, and 55% (6-11) at the free throw line.

Theodore led Seton Hall with his career-high 26 points, adding a game-high six assists.  Edwin added 20 points to tie his career-high, while the 6-8 Pope had eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Pirates.  SHU shot 57% (36-63) from the field, including 36% (8-22) on three-pointers, and 50% (7-14) at the line.

Seton Hall leads the all-time series between the two schools at 2-0, including a 78-51 win in New Jersey last season (12.13.10).