GREENSBORO, N.C. – Less than 24 hours after one of their most frustrating performances this season, a recharged Lancer squad bounced back from a 71-40 point loss to UNCG to take Delaware to the wire Wednesday afternoon before going cold in the final three minutes of a 65-57 loss at the UNCG Spartan Classic.
 
Led by a season-high 20 points from B.K. Ashe and the first career double-double from Charles Glover, Longwood (0-5) rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to tie the game at 57-57 with 5:16 to play at Fleming Gymnasium. That charged featured a 21-8 rally that saw the Lancers hold Delaware to 1-of-9 shooting from the field while knocking down 8-of-11 shots themselves.
 
The Blue Hens (4-2) got back on track in the final three minutes, however, going ahead on a Derrick Woods putback with 3:09 to play and knocking down all six free throws after Longwood was forced to foul.
 
Woods neared a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, while reserve guard Ryan Allen carried the offense with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. Ryan Daly also added 16 points to offset the 20-point night from Ashe and freshman Kamil Chapman's two clutch three-pointers down the stretch.
 
"I believe as a team, we took a step forward today," said Glover, a graduate transfer who went to two NCAA Tournaments in his four years at Mount St. Mary's.
 
"Yesterday was a struggle; the first half we played well, but we just couldn't put two halves together. Today we made adjustments. We got the zone thrown at us, but we still got the shots we needed. We just didn't knock them down, but we played well together as a team. I'm happy with my guys."
 
One day after scoring just 11 second-half points against UNCG's Southern Conference-leading defense, Longwood rallied after halftime against Delaware. Trailing 49-36 with 13:07 to play, the Lancers scored nine straight points to pull back within four thanks to a Chapman three-pointer with 10:23 left. The run continued until Glover tied it with a fast-break layup at 5:16 that he started by grabbing his 10th rebound of the game on the defensive end.
 
However, Glover's game-tying bucket was the final salvo for Longwood, as Delaware put the clamps on and held the Lancers scoreless on their final seven possessions.
 
"They're having time within the new system and the repetition of doing things the right way and making good decisions," said Longwood head coach Jayson Gee. "I'm just really proud of how they fought back in the second half. For us to get down 13 and come back, I think it says a lot about these young men and their resolve. There's a lot of season left and a lot we can get better at."
 
The Lancers were without several key pieces during the two-game road trip to Greensboro, as leading scorer Isaiah Walton missed Tuesday's game against UNCG, key forward Jahleem Montague missed both games, and junior forward Boaz Williams missed Wednesday's game – all with injuries. Montague and Williams are expected back Sunday against N.C. Wesleyan, as is junior forward Spencer Franklin, who has missed the first five games recovering from another injury.
 
"These guys have such a great attitude and mentality," Gee said. "They're down, they're hurting, no question about it. But they knew it wasn't going to be easy, especially with the guys we're missing. We've done some things that I think have given them some real hope. Once we get our roster together, we'll be in really good shape."
 
Longwood now gets three holiday off-days to prepare for a three-game homestand, which begins Sunday against N.C. Wesleyan in Willett Hall. That homestand continues the following Wednesday against Bluefield State and the next Saturday against Fayetteville State.
 
Those three home games will serve as Longwood's final training ground before a grueling December stretch that features road games at VMI, Illinois, Arizona State and Grand Canyon from Dec. 9-21, and a lone home game against Cornell on Dec. 15.
 
Longwood will then begin Big South play at Charleston Southern on Dec. 30.
 
"Trust me, I'm in love with our guys," Glover said. "I'm in love with the work and the progress we've made. It's a process, a long process. As a team, we'll just keep taking these non-conference games to get better. The goal is by conference time to have it all together."
 
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