Box Score
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. -- Jordan Washington made the game-winning layup with 6.1-seconds remaining, and Anthony McDonald scored 21 points, to lead Mississippi Valley State University of the Southwestern Athletic Conference to a 90-89 men's basketball victory past Longwood University on Saturday evening at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. The Delta Devils (2-5) had led 50-43 at halftime, before the Lancers (2-6) battled back in the second half and had taken an 89-88 lead on a layup by sophomore captain Lucas Woodhouse/Greenlawn, New York with 35.2-seconds on the clock. Classmate Karl Ziegler/Annandale led Longwood with a career-high and game-high 23 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team for the Barclays Center Classic presented by Continental Tire. Longwood will return home to host NAIA member WVU Tech on Wednesday, December 4 at 7 p.m. at Willett Hall in Farmville.
Longwood took an early 8-3 lead at 15:40 behind four quick points from Ziegler, but MVSU rallied back with a 17-2 run to lead 20-10 at 12:43. McDonald sparked the early run with eight points, including a pair of three-point field goals. The Delta Devils took their largest lead of the contest at 44-29 with 5:25 on the first-half clock, as James Currington completed an old-fashioned three-point play. The Lancers, however, fought back into the game by outscoring MVSU 14-6 over the final 4:56 to close to within 50-43 at halftime. Five different plays contributed to the half-ending run, while Ziegler (12) and redshirt-junior captain Jeylani Dublin/Brooklyn, New York (9) combined for 21 first-half points.
Longwood continued its momentum to start the second half, outscoring MVSU 9-2, to tie it at 52-52 with 15:35 remaining. Sophomore transfer Leron Fisher/Baltimore, Maryland scored the last seven points of the 23-8 run spanning the two halves. A three-point play inside by Ziegler at 14:50 tied it again at 55-55, and it was 57-57 following a layup by Dublin at 14:15. An 11-6 run capped by two free throws by Ziegler had the Lancers in front 66-61 with 11:14 left, but the Delta Devils scored seven unanswered points, including another three-pointer from McDonald, to lead 68-66 at 9:43. The lead would change 14 times over the final 9:15, and it was tied four times down the stretch, with neither team leading by more than three points. Woodhouse put Longwood ahead for the last time at 89-88 on his layup with 35.2-seconds to play, but after a timeout, MVSU ran the clock down before the layup by Washington with 6.1-seconds left. The Lancers turned the ball over before a possible game-winning shot attempt of their own.
Ziegler led Longwood with his career-high and game-high 23 points, including 11-12 free throws, while named to the All-Tournament Team. Ziegler finished the two games in New Jersey with 40 points, including 24-28 free throws (86%). Dublin finished with a season-high 17 points in 18 minutes off the bench for the Lancers, making 5-8 field goals and 7-7 free throws. Fisher added a career-high 16 points, making 5-8 field goals, 1-2 three-pointers and 5-7 free throws. Senior captain Tristan Carey/Colonial Beach posted a double-double with 12 points and a career-high and game-high 16 rebounds, while Woodhouse contributed 11 points and five assists. Longwood shot a season-high 59% (30-51) from the field, including 29% (2-7) on three-pointers and 84% (27-32) at the free throw line. The Lancers had an advantage on the boards for the first time this season, 37-29, for a 15-6 edge in second chance points.
McDonald led Mississippi Valley State with his 21 points, making 5-6 three-pointers. Currington had 17 points for the Delta Devils, including 8-12 field goals, while Cameron Dobbs contributed 15 points off the bench. Daniel Hurtt added 13 points off the bench, as well, and Washington had 10 points and a game-high four steals. MVSU shot 47% (34-73) from the field, including 40% (10-25) on three-pointers and 80% (12-15) at the line. The contest featured 19 lead changes and nine ties throughout the 40 minutes.
Longwood and MVSU were meeting for the first time in the sport.
