GAME NOTES (PDF) / BSN LIVE VIDEO / LISTEN LIVE / LIVE STATS / OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT BRACKET (PDF)
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Longwood University will play Gardner-Webb University in the first round of the 2014 VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Men's Basketball Championship on Wednesday night, March 5 at 8 p.m. at the HTC Center in Conway, South Carolina. The Lancers finished their regular season with a record of 8-23 overall, 3-13 in the Big South, and are the number six seed from the North Division. The Runnin' Bulldogs finished the season with a record of 17-14 overall, 10-6 in the Big South, and are the number three seed from the South Division. The game can be viewed exclusively on the
Big South Network, and can also be heard locally on WVHL Radio, Kickin' Country 92.9 FM or via the Internet at
wvhl.net.
The Game
Longwood (8-23, 3-13) plays its first Big South Tournament contest of the
Jayson Gee Era on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., as the No. 6 North seed Lancers face the No. 3 South seed Gardner-Webb (17-14, 10-6). The Runnin' Bulldogs defeated Longwood by a score of 82-62 on January 29 in Virginia, getting 19 points and a game-high eight rebounds from Jerome Hill, while Naji Hibbert added 17 points.Â
Tristan Carey led the Lancers with a game-high 26 points, while
Jeylani Dublin added 16 points, off the bench.
Coach Gee
"I am excited to coach my first game in the Big South Conference Tournament, and start our third season," said first-year Longwood head coach
Jayson Gee. "What I love about this time of year is it serves as a new lease on life! Everyone has a chance, everyone is 0-0 and we plan to take full advantage of our opportunity to compete for the Big South Tournament Championship. Unfortunately we have a difficult opponent in Gardner Webb, who defeated us by a large amount, they are well coached and a very good defensive team."
The Series
Longwood and Gardner-Webb are meeting for the 11th time in the sport, and the Runnin' Bulldogs have won two-straight to even the overall series, 5-5. The two recent wins against the Lancers have come since Longwood joined the Big South (July 1, 2012), including a 76-65 win in North Carolina last season on February 2, 2013.
The Runnin' Bulldogs
Gardner-Webb is 17-14 overall, 10-6 in the Big South, including an 83-71 road loss at UNC Asheville on March 1. Tim Craft is in his first year as head coach of the Runnin' Bulldogs, who enter the tournament with 10 wins in their last 14 games. Gardner-Webb is expected to start sophomore Jerome Hill (14.2 points, 8.0 rebounds), senior Naji Hibbert (12.0 points, 58 3FGs), juniors Donta Harper (10.4 points) and Tyler Strange (9.3 points, 5.1 assists, 56 3FGs) along with senior Mike Byron (3.1 points). The Runnin' Bulldogs shoot 45% (796-1772) from the field, including 34% (165-483) on three-pointers and 69% (510-740) at the free throw line.
The Lancers
Longwood is 8-23 overall, 3-13 in the Big South, including an 86-66 home loss to VMI on March 1. The Lancers, who enter the tournament with nine losses in their last 10 games, are expected to start senior captain
Tristan Carey (18.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 92 3FGs), sophomore
Karl Ziegler (11.9 points, 5.1 rebounds), sophomore captain
Lucas Woodhouse (11.5 points, 6.7 assists, 47 3FGs), redshirt-junior captain
Jeylani Dublin (10.5 points, 4.3 rebounds) and sophomore
Leron Fisher (7.0 points). Longwood shoots 44% (787-1787) from the field, including 35% (176-498) on three-pointers and 73% (420-575) at the line.
For more information, please see the comprehensive game notes linked above.
