Game Notes | PDF
FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University will welcome Dartmouth College of the Ivy League in a non-conference men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon, December 1, at Willett Hall in Farmville at 2 p.m. The Lancers (2-5) are led by the outside-inside combo of 6-4 junior guard
Tristan Carey|Colonial Beach (16.1 points, 19 3FGs) and 6-9 freshman forward
Michael Kessens|Nyon, Switzerland (14.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 62% FG). The Big Green (1-3) are led by 5-11 freshman Alex Mitola (14.8 points, 11 3FGs) and 6-9 sophomore Gabas Maldunas (12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds).
Series History
Longwood and Dartmouth are meeting for just the second time in the sport. The Big Green took an 83-67 home win against the Lancers last January 14 in Hanover, New Hampshire. (see box score at back of game notes)
Looking At Longwood
Longwood is 2-5 overall, 0-0 in the Big South following an 88-75 home win against Central Penn on November 28. The Lancers are led by junior
Tristan Carey (16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 19 3FGs), along with freshmen
Michael Kessens (14.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 62% FGs) and
Nik Brown (11.7 points, 4.5 assists). Redshirt-sophomore
Jeylani Dublin (8.6 points, 6.4 rebounds) and junior
David Robinson (7.7 points) have also been in the lineup early this season. Longwood is shooting 42% (180-426) from the field, including 29% (36-125) on three-point field goals, and 65% (89-137) at the free throw line.
Looking At Dartmouth
Dartmouth College, a member of the Ivy League, is 1-3 following a 62-49 road loss at Bucknell on Nov. 27. The Big Green are led by freshman Alex Mitola (14.8 points, 11 3FGs) along with sophomores Gabas Maldunas (12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds) and John Golden (11.5 points). Sophomore Jvonte Brooks (7.5 points) and freshman Tommy Carpenter (3.5 points) have also been in the lineup this season. DC is shooting 35% (78-222) from the field, including 29% (27-93) on three-pointers, and 77% (57-74) at the line.
Last Time Out
Longwood took an 88-75 decision past Central Penn on Nov. 28 at Willett Hall in Farmville. The Lancers led for the final 36:48 of the contest, including 53-42 at halftime, and 80-65 with 4:34 remaining.
Michael Kessens led Longwood with 18 points and a career-high and game-high 17 rebounds for his fifth double-double, adding three steals and three blocks.
Tristan Carey and
David Robinson (season high) each had 17 points, while Carey added six rebounds and four steals.
Nik Brown contributed 12 points and a game-high six assists to tie his career high. Freshman
Karl Ziegler had nine points off the bench, and sophomore
Frank Holloway had eight points and seven rebounds off the bench in his Longwood debut. LU shot 49.2% (32-65) from the field, including 35.3% (6-17) on three-pointers, and 69.2% (18-26) at the line. CPC shot 40.0% (28-70) from the field, including 46.7% (7-15) on three-pointers, and 50.0% (12-24) at the line.
Continuing To Impress
Michael Kessens (14.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 62% FG, 79% FT) continues to impress through his first seven college games, including five double-doubles … 17 points, 15 rebounds against Norfolk State on Nov. 15, 17 points, 11 rebounds at Arkansas on Nov. 18, 14 points, 16 rebounds against FAMU on Nov. 23, a career-high 20 points, 14 rebounds against Cornell on Nov. 24, and 18 points, a career-high 17 rebounds against Central Penn on Nov. 28. He had 11 points and five rebounds at Marshall on Nov. 9 in his college debut. Kessens was named The Crons Brand/Big South Freshman of the Week on Nov. 19 for his two-game efforts against Norfolk State and Arkansas (17.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 12-16 FGs, 10-11 FTs, six blocks, four steals, one assist).
That's More Like It …
Tristan Carey (16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 19-51 3FGs) played his finest two games of the young season on Nov. 23-24 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. After averaging 13.4 points (55 3FGs), 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season, he was only averaging 11.8 points and 4.0 rebounds through four games this season while shooting just 36% (20-56) from the field, including 19% (5-26) on three-point field goals. That changed in Las Vegas as Carey averaged 24.5 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 58% (18-31) from the field, including 67% (12-18) on three-pointers, and playing 78 of 80 minutes. As mentioned, he was named to the 2012 Continental Tire/Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament Team for his efforts.
… Indeed It Is
Nik Brown (11.7 points, 4.5 assists) played the finest two games of his young career on Nov. 23-24 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. He averaged 6.0 points and 3.3 assists through his first three college games this season while shooting just 19% (6-32) from the field, including 0-8 on three-point field goals. That changed in Las Vegas as Brown averaged 20.0 points and 5.5 assists while shooting 41% (12-29) from the field, including 36% (4-11) on three-pointers, and 75% (12-16) at the free throw line while playing 75 minutes.
Perseverance Paying Off
Jeylani Dublin (8.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 50% FG, 71% FT) only played in 29 games during his first two years, including just four games last year (1.8 points, 0.5 rebounds). He missed the final 22 games a year ago with a broken hand and received a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA. Dublin has started five-straight games, including at No. 12 Creighton on Nov. 20, where he scored a career-high 19 points. He had his first career double-double against FAMU on Nov. 23 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas with 11 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Dublin came off the bench at Marshall on Nov. 9 and had 10 points and eight rebounds, and made his first collegiate start against Norfolk State on Nov. 15 (eight points, four rebounds).
This Is A First
As members of the Big South Conference, Longwood is eligible for league statistical rankings for the first time in the Division I era. Through games of Nov. 30,
Michael Kessens leads the Big South in field goal percentage (.623), rebounding (11.7), offensive rebounds (4.7) and defensive rebounds (7.0), ranks fourth in blocks (1.9), sixth in free throw percentage (.793), 11th in scoring (14.1) and 13th in steals (1.7).
Tristan Carey is third in minutes (35.4), tied for third in three-point field goals (2.7), fourth in three-point percentage (.373), tied for fourth in steals (2.3), seventh in scoring (16.1), 11th in field goal percentage (.437) and tied for 15th in defensive rebounds (3.7).
Nik Brown is third in assists (4.5), 10th in assist/turnover ratio (0.90), 13th in free throw percentage (.719) and 21st in scoring (11.7).
Jeylani Dublin is tied for ninth in offensive rebounds (2.7), 13th in rebounding (6.4) and tied for 15th in defensive rebounds (3.7). The Lancers rank fourth in blocks (3.6) and are sixth in both scoring (69.3) and three-point field goals (5.1).
Division I Statistical Rankings
Through games of Nov. 25,
Michael Kessens ranked second nationally in double-doubles (4), 12th in rebounds (10.8) and 37th in field goal percentage (.612). He leads the Big South in double-doubles.
Tristan Carey was 50th in three-point field goals (2.8).
Welcome To College Basketball
In addition to
Michael Kessens and
Nik Brown, true freshmen
Lucas Woodhouse and
Karl Ziegler are each playing their respective first season of college basketball. Woodhouse (1.1 points, 1.9 assists) started the first game at Marshall on Nov. 9, posting season highs of five points and four assists, and has played in the six games since. Ziegler (6.9 points, 2.3 rebounds) has played in every game, posting season highs of 10 points and five rebounds against Cornell on Nov. 24.
