GAME NOTES (PDF) / LISTEN LIVE / LIVE STATS / LIVE VIDEO (FEE)
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The much-anticipated Jayson Gee Era of Longwood University men's basketball begins on Saturday, November 9, as the Lancers open the 2013-14 campaign at the University of South Carolina of the Southeastern Conference at 1 p.m. at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. It will be the program's first game under Gee, the former associate head coach at Cleveland State for the past seven seasons, who was appointed on April 3, 2013. A veteran with 24 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, Gee helped CSU to four postseason appearances, including one NCAA Tournament and three NIT bids. He is the eighth head coach in the 37-year history of the program. The game against the Gamecocks can be heard locally on WVHL Radio, Kickin' Country 92.9 FM or via the Internet at wvhl.net.
Series History
Longwood and South Carolina are meeting for just the second time in the sport of men's basketball, as the Gamecocks took an 88-58 victory past the Lancers on January 5, 2010. Longwood is 0-5 all-time against schools from the SEC, including road losses at Kentucky (L 91-57, 11/24/08), Florida (L 95-69, 1/6/09), South Carolina (L 88-58, 1/5/10), Vanderbilt (L 99-71, 12/19/11) and Arkansas (L 112-63, 11/18/12).
Looking At Longwood
Longwood returns seven lettermen from last year when the Lancers finished 8-25 overall, 4-12 in the Big South. The Lancers are expected to be led by 6-4 senior Tristan Carey (15.6 points, 81 3FGS, 5.1 rebounds), 6-6 redshirt-junior Jeylani Dublin (10.0 points, 5.7 rebounds) and 6-1 sophomore Lucas Woodhouse (5.2 points, 5.5 assists). Carey was a preseason All-Big South Second Team selection and begins his third season at Longwood with 932 career points, including 136 three-point field goals in 64 games. Sophomore Karl Ziegler (6-5) averaged 7.1 points a year ago, mostly off the bench, while senior Jeff Havenstein (6-8) is another returner with significant experience. First-year team members expected to contribute include sophomore Leron Fisher (5-11) along with freshmen Darrion Allen (6-2), Isaac Belton (6-4) and Damarion Geter (6-7).
Looking At South Carolina
South Carolina returns seven lettermen from last year when the Gamecocks finished 14-18 overall, 4-14 in the SEC. Frank Martin is in his second year with the program after five seasons at Kansas State (117-54). South Carolina is expected to be led by 5-11 senior Brenton Williams (11.0 points, 50 3FGs), the team's leading returning scorer from 2012-13, and 6-5 sophomore Michael Carrera (9.9 points, 7.2 rebounds), who led the Gamecocks with 14 points in an 84-72 exhibition victory against Division II USC-Aiken on November 3. Freshman Sendarius Thornwell (6-5) had 12 points in the exhibition, and sophomore Laimonas Chatkevicius (6-11, 250) added 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Williams added 10 points off the bench in the preseason contest.
Season-Opening Game
Longwood is 17-20 (.459) all-time in season-opening games dating back to 1976. The Lancers are 1-5 (.167) in first games since becoming Division I-eligible in 2007, though that lone win came against a non-Division I program (Virginia-Wise, 87-44, 11/14/08); Longwood has yet to win against a Division I opponent to begin a campaign. Coach Gee is 1-0 as a head coach to begin a season, as his 1996-97 Division II Charleston (W.Va.) squad defeated Central State (Ohio), 96-85.
