Box Score
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Senior Kinu Rochford scored a career-high and game-high 32 points, adding a game-high 11 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double, to lead visiting Fairleigh Dickinson University past Longwood University 79-71 on Monday afternoon at Willett Hall in Farmville. Freshman
Michael Kessens|Nyon, Switzerland had 17 points to lead the Lancers (3-11), and junior captain
Tristan Carey|Colonial Beach added 16 points. Melquan Bolding added 22 points and nine rebounds for the Knights (5-7), who led the entire second half and by as many as 15 points with the margin never less than seven over the final 16:40. Longwood will embark upon its first season of Big South Conference competition this Saturday, January 5, at 2 p.m. as South Division opponent Coastal Carolina University visits Willett Hall in Farmville that afternoon for the Lancers' first-ever Big South game.
Longwood led most of the first half against FDU, including its largest lead at 8-2 just 3:33 into the contest behind six quick points from Kessens and a basket by Carey. It was a 17-11 advantage at 12:51 following a driving layup from freshman
Lucas Woodhouse|Greenlawn, New York, and the Lancers lead was 29-25 with 6:47 left in the half after a basket inside by redshirt-sophomore
Jeylani Dublin|Brooklyn, New York. The Knights, however, outscored the hosts 14-6 over the final 6:41 to lead 39-35 at the intermission. Bolding led FDU with 18 first-half points, while Rochford had 12 points at the break. Carey had 13 points at halftime for LU, though he scored them during the first 10:44 of the contest.
Longwood closed to within 45-40 early in the second half at 16:59 on a jumper by Kessens, but FDU answered with a 12-2 run to take its largest lead at 57-42 with 10:40 remaining. Rochford got it started with the first five points, including a three-point play inside. The Knights still led 63-52 at 4:52 after a pair of free throws by Rochford, before the Lancers cut the deficit to 67-60 at 2:39 on an offensive putback down low by Kessens. The visitors got a big three-pointer from Lonnie Robinson with 2:24 left, and secured the outcome with 7-8 free throws over the final 1:24, including 3-4 by Rochford.
“Certainly not the final result we were looking for as we move into 2013 and Big South play,” said 10th-year Longwood head coach Mike Gillian. “We did a much better job taking care of the ball … but did have some turnovers in transition, some after we had forced turnovers, that took easy scoring opportunities away from us. We did a pretty good job taking away one of their strengths, three-point shooting, but did not defend on the interior nearly well enough. The end result comes out of us just not making enough plays … we are improving, and need to continue to do so as we move forward.”
Kessens led Longwood with his 17 points, adding six rebounds. Carey had 16 points, six rebounds and three steals for the Lancers. Dublin contributed 14 points and six rebounds, and freshman
Nik Brown|Ashburn finished with 12 points, a career-high and game-high five steals along with four assists. LU shot 42.6% (29-68) from the field, including 22.2% (4-18) on three-pointers, and 52.9% (9-17) at the line. The Lancers did force 26 FDU turnovers that were converted into 25 points.
Rochford led Fairleigh Dickinson with his career-high and game-high 32 points, adding his game-high 11 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double, as he posted 30 points and a career-high 16 rebounds at VCU on Dec. 29 during a 96-67 road loss in Richmond. Bolding, who scored a career-high 38 points against LU last season, had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Knights. Robinson finished with 10 points. FDU shot 61.4% (27-44) from the field, including over 60% in each half, while 33.3% (3-9) on three-pointers, and 88.0% (22-25) at the line for the difference in the game.
Longwood and Fairleigh Dickinson were playing for the fourth time in four seasons, and the series is tied at 2-2, as each team has won both of its games on the opponent's home floors.
