CLINTON, S.C. – Redshirt junior point guard Davon Bell scored a team-high 18 points and freshman Romeo Crouch added a career-high 16 to help Presbyterian grind out a 67-62 win over Longwood Thursday evening in the Templeton Center.
 
In a game that saw the lead change hands nine times, Bell scored Presbyterian's final seven points in the last 3:11 of the second half to hold off a Longwood (6-19, 3-8 Big South) team that trimmed a seven-point deficit to one in the closing minutes.
 
Longwood senior Charles Glover hit a three-pointer from the corner to cut Presbyterian's lead to 63-62 with 1:27 to play, but Bell responded with a jumper in the lane to extend the lead to three points and knocked down two free throws in the closing seconds to ice the game.
 

Is there anyone on this team more clutch than Chuck Glover!? He hits a HUUUUUUGE 3-ball to cut Presbyterian's lead to 1! #GoWood pic.twitter.com/EgNjzuWSba

— Longwood Men's BB (@LongwoodMBB) February 2, 2018

 
Bell, who entered the game averaging a Big South-leading 4.9 assists per game, added six assists and committed just one turnover in his 36 minutes of action. He spearheaded a Presbyterian (10-14, 3-8 Big South) offense that shot .451 (23-of-51) from the field and hit 14-of-15 free throws.
 
Crouch and fellow guard Reggie Dillard aided Presbyterian's backcourt production with a combined 30 points, including Dillard's 12 in the second half.
 
Presbyterian's efficient offensive production was enough to overcome 16 points from Longwood redshirt senior B.K. Ashe, 13 from redshirt junior Damarion Geter and 12 from Glover. Ashe played turnover-free basketball for his 38 minutes of action, while both Glover and Geter neared double-doubles with nine and eight rebounds, respectively.
 

Say it again..."really special player" Damarion Geter. He has 13 tonight. #GoWood pic.twitter.com/33UMcWmZBZ

— Longwood Men's BB (@LongwoodMBB) February 2, 2018

 
However, the Blue Hose were able to hold the Big South's second leading scorer to single digits for only the third time this season, as Isaiah Walton finished with eight points on just six field goal attempts.
 
"I have to give credit to their defense," said Longwood head coach Jayson Gee. "They made it tough on [Walton], and I thought he made good plays because they made it tough on him. He was being heavily guarded, and he was able to hit open guys because they were so focused on him. That's what good players do; we just needed more of those."

Longwood kept pace with Presbyterian through the first 31 minutes of the game, taking a 29-28 lead into halftime and battling to a 45-45 deadlock with 9:28 to play. However, the Blue Hose took control for good when Ruben Arroyo and Crouch hit back-to-back three-pointers with just under nine minutes to play.
 
Crouch was fouled on his trey and hit the ensuing free throw, giving Presbyterian a 7-0 that turned a tied game into a 52-45 lead.
 
Presbyterian never allowed Longwood to score on consecutive possessions the rest of the way.
 
"We had some key turnovers that really cost us in crucial parts of the game," said Longwood head coach Jayson Gee. "We were just unable to make up for it in the long run."
 
Longwood has a short turnaround before their next game, which pits them against rival Liberty at home in Willett Hall this Saturday, Feb. 3. In addition to the rivalry battle, Longwood will honor its three-member Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2018 at halftime after the group is formally inducted into Longwood's most prestigious athletics circle earlier that morning.
 
#GoWood