Box Score
CONWAY, S.C. – Freshman
Michael Kessens/Nyon, Switzerland scored a Big South Tournament-record 36 points, also adding a game-high 15 rebounds, but it was not enough as Longwood University dropped a 90-86 quarterfinal decision to VMI in the 2013 VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Men's Basketball Championship Thursday afternoon in Conway, South Carolina. Classmate
Lucas Woodhouse/Greenlawn, New York added 16 points and nine assists for the Lancers (8-25), seeded No. 6 in the North Division, against the Keydets (14-16), seeded No. 2 in the North Division, who led 55-43 at halftime and 72-55 with 11:51 remaining before withstanding a furious comeback attempt in the final minutes. Big South Player of the Year Stan Okoye scored 31 points, including 25 in the first half, to lead VMI while Big South Defensive Player of the Year D.J. Covington had 26 points and Rodney Glasgow added 22 points. Longwood completes its 2012-13 campaign with a final record of 8-25, winning five of its final nine games, including five of eight against conference opponents. The Lancers will return 12 lettermen for next season, including all five starters.
Longwood allowed Okoye and Covington to score the first four points of the game before settling in and taking a 19-13 lead at 11:59 behind points from all five starters: Kessens (8), Woodhouse (3), junior captains
Tristan Carey/Colonial Beach (3) and
David Robinson/Chesterfield (3), along with redshirt-sophomore
Jeylani Dublin/Brooklyn, New York (2). Back-to-back baskets from Dublin made it 27-24 at 8:14, but VMI responded with a 12-0 run to go ahead 36-27 at 5:41, getting five points from Glasgow and four from Okoye along with a three-pointer by Nick Gore. Woodhouse stopped the run with a three-pointer at 5:08, and Kessens added a jumper at 4:31 to make it 36-32. The Keydets outscored the Lancers 19-11 over the final four-plus minutes of the half to lead 55-43 at the intermission.
Okoye showed why he was voted the league's premier player this season, scoring 25 first-half points while making 10-12 free throws, as VMI had a 17-5 advantage at the charity stripe during the first 20 minutes. Kessens demonstrated the talents that placed him on the conference's All-Freshman Team, scoring 19 first-half points, along with eight rebounds. Longwood was whistled for 12 first-half fouls, including three on leading scorer Carey, who had two during the first 3:44, and four fouls on Woodhouse, who collected three in the final 2:09 – one assessed as a technical foul. Covington had 12 points and Glasgow scored 11 first-half points for the Keydets.
Longwood closed to within 60-51 early in the second half at 18:08 on a three-pointer by Woodhouse that followed a three-pointer by Carey and two free throws from Robinson. VMI, however, answered with a 10-2 run to lead 70-53 at 14:23 behind six points from Covington and four by Glasgow. The Keydets led 72-55 on a layup by Covington at 11:51, before the Lancers scored 10 unanswered points to close within 72-65 at 8:47. Freshman
Karl Ziegler/Annandale scored the first five points of the outburst that included another three-pointer by Woodhouse and another basket inside from Kessens. Kessens made two free throws at 6:21 to make it 80-73, but Ziegler was called for a technical foul on the second attempt, allowing Glasgow to make two free throws, and Okoye made two more free throws at 6:14, as VMI stretched the margin back to 84-73. The Lancer bench had just been assessed a technical at 7:59.
Longwood refused to stop battling every odd possible, though, and played hard to the final horn. It was 84-77 at 5:25 on a pair of free throws by Kessens, 86-79 at 4:50 after a layup by Woodhouse, 86-81 at 2:50 on a layup from Kessens and 86-83 at 2:03 following another layup by Kessens. Robinson missed a three-pointer at 1:19 that would have tied the contest, before Okoye made a jumper at 1:07 to make it 88-83. Kessens made 1-2 free throws with 53-seconds left to make it 88-84 and a jumper from Woodhouse with 14-seconds left made it 88-86. VMI missed a free throw with 6.2-seconds left, only to get the offensive rebound that allowed 1-2 free throws by Brian Brown to make it 89-86. Carey grabbed the rebound on the missed second attempt by Brown, but turned the ball over to Glasgow, who made 1-2 free throws at 0:03 to provide for the final four-point margin.
"It's always a sad moment when the season comes to an end, and this one was especially difficult, said 10th-year Longwood head coach Mike Gillian. "The reason was on display during that second half comeback we made today. Facing seemingly insurmountable adversity, this group of players gave every ounce of energy they could for us to be in position to win the game. That's exactly what they have done all year long. It's no surprise to me that we finished the season they way we did, playing our best and winning games. It's also no surprise to me that we came all the way back today and had a reasonable shot to advance in this tournament. I am extremely proud of our team, the players and coaches, for their efforts and commitment to Longwood Basketball … We Are Longwood Lancers!"
Kessens led Longwood with his conference tournament-record and career-high 36 points, making 13-21 field goals and 10-12 free throws, adding the game-high 15 rebounds for his 11th double-double. Woodhouse scored 16 points, adding (at least) a game-high nine assists, as well as five rebounds for the Lancers. Ziegler finished with 11 points and five rebounds, off the bench. Carey contributed with 10 points, Dublin had eight points and seven rebounds, and Robinson had five points. LU shot 50% (29-58) from the field, including 37% (7-19) on three-pointers and 84% (21-25) at the free throw line.
Okoye led VMI with his 31 points, adding nine rebounds. Covington added 26 points and Glasgow had 22 points for the Keydets. VMI shot 48% (29-61) from the field, including 33% (7-21) on three-pointers and 83% (25-30) at the line -- six for six on the three technical foul opportunities, all made by Glasgow during the contest decided by a mere four points.
Longwood and VMI were meeting for only the eighth time since first playing during the 1982-83 season. The Keydets lead the series, 6-2, earning three wins this season, including 94-80 in Lexington on March 2 and 93-60 in Farmville on February 6.
2013 VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Men's Basketball Championship photo credits to Shawn LaFata and Jordon Drexler.
