Box Score
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Branimir Mikulic scored a game-high 15 points, off the bench, to lead North Division leader High Point University to an 82-53 Big South Conference men's basketball victory at Longwood University on Wednesday night at Willett Hall in Farmville. The visiting Panthers (14-10, 9-3 Big South) outscored the hosts 58-30 in the second half after leading just 24-23 at halftime. Freshman
Michael Kessens/Nyon, Switzerland had his ninth double-double of the season with 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for the Lancers (4-22, 1-11 Big South). Longwood will host Big South opponent and in-state rival Radford University on Saturday, February 16 at 2 p.m. The Radford game will feature a
Jerome Kersey Bobblehead Giveaway and is the annual
Reunion Day that begins with an
Alumni Game at 11 a.m.
Longwood and High Point played a close first half, as the Lancers were within 8-6 at 15:58 following a slam dunk by Kessens off an assist from junior
Tristan Carey/Colonial Beach. The Panthers used a mini 11-6 run to take their largest lead of the half at 19-12 with 5:19 left, getting four points each from Mikulic and Adam Weary. Longwood battled back with a 9-3 spurt to pull to within 22-21 at 2:48 on a steal and layup by Carey, and after a jumper from Allan Chaney, Carey scored on another layup to make it 24-23 at the intermission. Kessens had eight points and 10 rebounds at the break, while Weary scored six first-half points.
Longwood finally drew even at 24-24 early in the second half on a free throw by redshirt-sophomore
Jeylani Dublin/Brooklyn, New York with 18:58 remaining. High Point, however, quickly re-took the lead on a pair of free throws from Derrell Edwards at 18:46, and the Panthers led the rest of the way. HPU added seven more unanswered points to lead 33-24 at 16:43, with Edwards making a three-point field goal and Dejuan McGaughy added two jumpers. The visitors extended their run to 25-6 to lead 49-30 at 12:38, as Mikulic scored five points, including a three-pointer to close the outburst. The Lancers were able to get to within 53-37 with 10:45 to play on a three-pointer by Carey, but would get no closer. High Point outscored LU 29-16 over the final 9:29, taking its largest lead with eight-seconds left following a steal and dunk from Quincy Drye.
“That was, unfortunately for us, very similar to the game we played down at High Point a few weeks ago,” said 10th-year head coach Mike Gillian. “We did exactly what we wanted to do in the first half, controlled the tempo of the game, kept them off the offensive glass, and were in a one-point game at halftime. There was no doubt we were going to get their best shot in the opening minutes of the second half -- we just didn't respond well to it. We turned the ball over six times and gave up four offensive rebounds in the first four minutes, and they got out to a 10-point lead, and we never recovered.”
Kessens led Longwood with his 14 points and game-high 14 rebounds for his league-leading ninth double-double, adding three assists. Dublin had 14 points and four rebounds for the Lancers. Carey finished with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists, while freshman
Lucas Woodhouse/Greenlawn, New York contributed a game-high seven assists. LU shot 40% (23-57) from the field, including 1-10 on three-pointers and 60% (6-10) at the free throw line.
Mikulic led High Point with his game-high 15 points, off the bench, adding five rebounds. Edwards finished with 10 points for the Panthers. McGaughy and Devante Wallace, off the bench, each had nine points, and Chaney contributed eight points and 10 rebounds. HPU shot 54% (32-59) from the field, including 65% (22-34) in the second half, 69% (9-13) on three-pointers and 90% (9-10) at the line.
Longwood and High Point were playing for the 21st time in the sport, and the Panthers lead the series, 15-6.
High Point will play at North Division opponent Liberty University on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m.
