Game Notes (PDF)
OMAHA, Neb. -- Longwood University will play at nationally-ranked No. 12 Creighton University of the Missouri Valley Conference in men's basketball on Tuesday night, November 20, at 8:05 p.m. ET at the CenturyLink Center (17,260) in Omaha, Nebraska. It is the second of four games in the 2012 Continental Tire/Las Vegas Invitational for the Lancers (0-3) and talented Bluejays (3-0), who are led by 6-7 junior All-American Doug McDermott (16.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 58% FG, 94% FT). Longwood is led by 6-9 freshman
Michael Kessens|Nyon, Switzerland (15.0 points, 10.3 rebounds) and 6-4 junior captain
Tristan Carey|Colonial Beach (11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds). Creighton is coached by Greg McDermott and has also been led by 6-7 junior Ethan Wragge (11.3 points). The game can be heard locally on WVHL Radio, Kickin' Country 92.9 FM or via the Internet at
wvhl.net, and the contest will also be televised on
ESPN3.
Series History
Longwood and Creighton are meeting for the first time in the sport of men's basketball. The Lancers are 0-1 all-time against the Missouri Valley Conference, as ironically, LU played at the University of Northern Iowa on December 23, 2004 when the Panthers were coached by Greg McDermott. UNI defeated Longwood 84-63 in a game that was part of the 2004 Las Vegas Classic.
Looking At Longwood
Longwood is 0-3 overall, 0-0 in the Big South following a 112-63 road loss at the University of Arkansas on November 18. The Lancers have been led by freshman
Michael Kessens (15.0 points, 10.3 rebounds), already with two double-doubles, and junior captain
Tristan Carey (11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds). Junior captain
David Robinson (8.0 points) and redshirt-sophomore
Jeylani Dublin (7.3 points, 4.7 rebounds) have also been solid. LU is shooting 37% (65-176) from the field, including just 19% (10-53) on three-point field goals, and 66% (36-55) at the free throw line.
Looking At Creighton
Creighton is 3-0 overall, 0-0 in the Missouri Valley following an 87-58 home win past Presbyterian on Nov. 18. The Bluejays have been led by junior All-American Doug McDermott (16.7 points, 8.3 rebounds), and classmate Ethan Wragge (11.3 points). Sophomore Austin Chatman (9.3 points, 6.3 assists), senior Gregory Echenique (9.9 points, 9.0 rebounds) and senior Josh Jones (9.0 points) have also been good. CU is shooting 54% (83-153) from the field, including 39% (27-69) on three-pointers, and 78% (42-54) at the line.
Last Time Out
Longwood dropped a 112-63 non-conference road decision at Arkansas on Nov. 18 in Fayetteville. The Lancers trailed 55-34 at halftime while led by
Michael Kessens with 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double.
Tristan Carey had 12 points, and
David Robinson added 11 points. LU shot 40% (21-53) from the field, including 24% (4-17) on three-pointers, and 71% (17-24) at the line. UA shot 52% (43-82) from the field, including 24% (5-21) on three-pointers, and 66% (21-32) at the line.
Continental Tire/Las Vegas Invitational
Longwood is participating in the exempt, four-game Continental Tire/Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 18-24. The Lancers play road games at Arkansas on Nov. 18 in Fayetteville, and at #13 Creighton on Nov. 20 in Omaha, Nebraska. The Bluejays, ranked nationally in the preseason, advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament last season. The event concludes at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas with games against Florida A&M on Nov. 23 at 2 p.m., and either Cornell or Presbyterian on Nov. 24, at either 3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. It will be the Lancers' second appearance in the Las Vegas Invitational (2008), and their fifth overall tournament appearance in Las Vegas, including participation in three previous Las Vegas Classics (2004, 2006, 2010). Longwood is 4-2 in six previous games at the Orleans Arena that includes the 2006 Findlay Toyota|Las Vegas Classic Lower Bracket Championship. The Lancers enjoyed wins against both Charleston Southern (73-67) and Kennesaw State (87-85 OT) in 2006. Arizona State and Wisconsin are also in the Invitational's eight-team field this year.
It Adds Up … To An Unkind Road
Longwood has traveled to 33 different states and Washington, D.C. while playing 149 games away from Farmville during the last eight-plus years of Division I scheduling (2004-05). This is an average of 18.4 non-home games per year, and includes totals of 128 true road games and 21 neutral-site games. Unfortunately, the results in these contests have not been kind to the road-weary program … The Lancers are 13-115 in the true road games and 6-15 in the neutral-site games; the overall record away from Farmville is 19-130. Longwood has 18 games on the schedule away from Farmville this season, including two neutral-site contests. The Lancers, however, will only visit one new state: that being the recent visit to Arkansas (11.18.12).
