FARMVILLE, Va. – After a long weekend full of exciting college hoops action, the JK54 Classic is nearing its completion following Longwood's last matchup of the event against SIUE.
 
Longwood fell in their final game of the weekend to SIUE by a score of 61-56. The game came down to the wire, but SIUE's basket with 23 seconds remaining to lead by four was ultimately the game-winner for the Cougars.
 
DeShaun Wade was the leading scorer for Longwood, registering 14 points and six rebounds.

"We missed boxouts and they got offensive rebounds that put them on line…on the offensive end, our shot selection was poor," said head coach Griff Aldrich on the loss. "Our lack of execution and lack of discipline was really the driver."
 
The Lancers and Cougars were both highly touted preseason teams, with Longwood being selected to finish first in the Big South and SIUE receiving two first place votes in the Ohio Valley Conference. Both teams entered the day 2-0 in the classic, and the game proved to be closely contested all the way through.
 
Longwood attacked the basket to start the game, scoring their first five baskets inside the painted area. After starting the frame up 8-2, things slowed down offensively for the Lancers, and the Cougars were able to pull closer in what became a gritty, defensive battle. The Cougars' stout defense held Longwood without a field goal for 13 minutes, helping them secure a 35-27 halftime lead.
 
SIUE's defensive prowess kept the Lancers inefficient to start the second half, and the Cougars increased their lead to 11. However, Longwood and the Willett Hall crowd came roaring back, led by seven-straight points by DeShaun Wade to cut it to a three-point game. The Lancers earned their first lead since the 9:04 mark in the first half on a pickpocket and subsequent fast break dunk by Isaiah Wilkins with 6:47 remaining. The game remained a back and forth affair the whole way through, but DeeJuan Pruitt's contested finish at the rim with 23 seconds remaining to go up by four would prove to be the deciding basket for the Cougars.

Ray'Sean Taylor led the way for SIUE, scoring 15 points while shooting six for six from the free throw line.

"We have to have a hunger to execute on the details, and we didn't have that tonight," said Aldrich. "It starts with your mental approach…we need to get that fixed."

The Lancers will be back in action next Friday, November 25^th against Mary Baldwin University in Farmville at Willett Hall. The game will be available to watch on ESPN+, and all Longwood games will be aired on WVHL 92.9 Kickin' Country. Tickets to the game are available here.
 
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