Box Score
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Freshman
Michael Kessens/Nyon, Switzerland tied his career-high with a game-high 22 points, freshman
Lucas Woodhouse/Greenlawn, New York scored a career-high 20 points, redshirt-sophomore
Jeylani Dublin/Brooklyn, New York had 15 points and freshman
Karl Ziegler/Annandale matched his career-high with 14 points to lead Longwood University to 79-66 Big South Conference men's basketball road win at Campbell University Wednesday night in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The Lancers (7-23, 4-11 Big South) outscored the Fighting Camels (12-18, 7-8 Big South) 31-17 over the final 11:10 en route to their third-straight league win, and fourth conference win in the last five games overall. Andrew Ryan scored 16 points to lead the hosts in the North Division contest. Longwood will play its regular-season finale on the road at North Division and in-state rival VMI on Saturday, March 2 at 1 p.m. in Lexington.
Longwood took an early 9-7 lead at 16:52 as Kessens scored five quick points, including a three-point field goal. Campbell, however, responded with 10 unanswered points to lead 17-9 at 13:23 on its Senior Night, aided by consecutive three-pointers from Ryan. An 11-4 run by the Lancers made it 21-20 at 8:23 as Ziegler (4) and Woodhouse (3) combined for seven points around baskets by Dublin and junior captain
David Robinson/Chesterfield. The Fighting Camels once-again responded, outscoring the visitors 6-2 for a 27-22 advantage at 3:35. LU, though, would respond as well, using an 8-2 run while closing the period to lead 30-29 at halftime behind Kessens (4), Woodhouse (2) and Ziegler (2). Kessens had nine points at the break, and Woodhouse had seven, while Ryan scored 10 first-half points for CU.
Longwood began the second half well, extending the advantage to 39-34 at 17:11, getting five quick points from Dublin via a jumper and conventional three-point play inside along with a three-pointer by junior captain
Tristan Carey/Colonial Beach, his only basket of the night. Campbell followed with six-straight points to lead 40-39 at 15:13 following an old-fashioned three-point play from Reco McCarter, and the Fighting Camels still led 49-48 with 11:46 remaining after consecutive layups by Trey Freeman. The Lancers, however, took control with a 12-2 run behind five points each from Woodhouse and Kessens to lead 60-51 at 6:41. Woodhouse started the decisive spurt with a three-pointer from the left wing after collecting an offensive rebound and Kessens finished it with a three-point play inside. CU managed to pull to within 62-55 at 5:30 on a layup from Marvelle Harris, but LU extended the lead to 68-57 at 3:53 on a layup by Robinson off a nice feed from Woodhouse. The visitors led by as many as 14 points on two occasions down the stretch, securing the outcome with 11-14 free throws over the final 2:18, including 6-6 by Woodhouse.
“The freshmen were awesome tonight!” said 10th-year head coach Mike Gillian. “Those guys have progressed to the point where they can not only impact the game, but carry us to a huge road victory. Tonight's performance continues the stretch of good basketball we've been playing recently and shows that we are capable of sustaining positive results over an extended period of time. It's going to be an interesting week beginning with VMI on Saturday and the tournament starting next Tuesday. We can't wait!”
Kessens led Longwood while tying his career-high with his game-high 22 points, including 7-8 free throws. Woodhouse added his career-high 20 points, making 7-7 free throws, along with a game-high eight assists for the Lancers. He established a new school record for season assists, 155, surpassing the 147 assists dished out by Ryan Earl during 2002-03. Dublin finished with 15 points, making 7-10 field goals. Ziegler tied his career-high with 14 points, off the bench, adding seven rebounds, a career-high and game-high three steals as well as three assists. Robinson and Carey each had four points, a season-low for Carey, though he did add a game-high nine rebounds along with three assists. LU shot 50% (28-56) from the field, including 58% (15-26) in the second half, 30% (3-10) on three-pointers and 83% (20-24) at the free throw line.
Ryan led Campbell with his 16 points, adding six rebounds. Harris, McCarter and Leek Leek each had 11 points for the Fighting Camels. CU shot 39% (24-62) from the field, including 21% (3-14) on three-pointers and 75% (15-20) at the line.
Longwood and Campbell were playing for eighth time since 2007, and the series is tied, 4-4.
Campbell plays at North Division leader High Point on March 2 at 4 p.m.
