Box Score
LYNCHBURG, Va. – John Caleb Sanders scored a game-high 20 points to lead Liberty University to a 74-47 Big South Conference men's basketball victory against Longwood University on Tuesday night at the Vines Center in Lynchburg. The Flames (6-14, 2-4 Big South) led just 33-27 at halftime before outscoring the Lancers (3-17, 0-6 Big South) 41-20 in the second half. Freshman
Karl Ziegler|Annandale led the visitors with a career-high 12 points in the North Division contest. Longwood will return home to host South Division opponent Presbyterian College on Saturday, January 26 at 2 p.m. at Willett Hall in Farmville. It is the annual 'Take a Kid to the Game Day' as all youth ages 18 and under will receive free admission to Saturday's home game against the Blue Hose.
Longwood and Liberty played closely for most of the first half, as the Lancers led 8-7 at 15:48 after two free throws by freshman
Lucas Woodhouse|Greenlawn, New York. It was a 17-15 margin for the visitors with 7:30 left until the break following a jumper from redshirt-sophomore
Jeylani Dublin|Brooklyn, New York, and it was tied at 19-19 with 6:10 to go after two free throws by Ziegler. The Flames, however, scored nine-straight points to lead 28-19 at 4:13 with five points from Casey Roberts and four from Tavares Speaks. The hosts extended the run to 14-2 for the largest lead of the period, 33-21, at 2:47 before Longwood scored the final six points to provide for the 33-27 deficit at the intermission.
Liberty started the second half on a 9-2 run to lead 42-29 at 16:28, following five-straight points by Sanders, including a three-pointer. Longwood answered with five-straight points, including a three-pointer from Woodhouse to make it 42-34 with 15:11 remaining. That was as close as it would get, though, as the Flames used a 15-2 run to take control and lead 57-36 at 8:21. The Lancers had the margin under 20 points just two times from there, the last at 59-40 with 7:29 to play after a layup by junior captain
Tristan Carey|Colonial Beach. Liberty continued extending its advantage the rest of the way behind a game-ending 15-7 run.
“That was not a good second half tonight,” said 10th-year head coach Mike Gillian. “We had scrapped back to within six points at halftime, and just did not play well right from the beginning of the second half. Liberty drove the ball right at us to start the half, scoring right around the rim on probably 10 of their first 12 possessions. On offense, we were very impatient in the last 20 minutes, and not very productive. Liberty was the better team tonight. We'll have to play much better when we see them in Willett Hall next month.”
Ziegler led Longwood with his career-high 12 points, including 8-8 free throws, adding five rebounds. Carey added 10 points and five rebounds, off the bench, for the Lancers before fouling out with 3:20 left. The team's leading scorer (14.8) did not start for the first time this season after being late for the team's departure to the game. Woodhouse finished with seven points and two assists, and freshman
Michael Kessens contributed seven points and a game-high six rebounds. LU shot 30.9% (17-55) from the field, including 13.3% (2-15) on three-pointers, and 84.6% (11-13) at the free throw line.
Sanders led Liberty with his game-high 20 points, adding five rebounds and four assists. Roberts had 12 points off the bench for the Flames, and Speaks finished with 10 points. Liberty shot 52.8% (28-53) from the field, including 43.8% (7-16) on three-pointers, and 64.7% (11-17) at the line.
Longwood and Liberty were meeting for 26th time since 1977-78, but for the first time in five seasons, and the Lancers continue to lead the overall series, 17-9. The Lancers are 5-8 against the Flames in games played in Lynchburg, and 12-1 in games played in Farmville, including 10-0 at Willett Hall. The two schools will meet again next month on February 19 at 7 p.m. in Farmville.
Liberty will remain at home to host Charleston Southern on Jan. 26 at 8 p.m.
