DOVER, Del. – The first time Longwood and Delaware State met on the hardwood, it took double overtime to determine a winner in Farmville. Saturday afternoon was nearly a repeat in Delaware.
 
In a matchup of two tough, gritty squads that refused to lose, Longwood (9-1) won 62-61 over Delaware State (6-7) with a mix of guts and a huge timely stop for their ninth straight win. The nine straight tied for the longest winning streak in the country, depending on results in the evening. In addition, it was the team's third true road win of the season.
 
"It's not easy to win on the road, and I'm proud of the guys today," said Longwood Head Coach Griff Aldrich. "I thought our guys really battled adversity. Delaware State is a really good team. To be able to have the mental fortitude to fight through is a mark of a special team. My hat's off to Delaware State. I think they're going to have a really good season in the MEAC."
 
Walyn Napper came up big with a career high four threes and finished with 19 points on 7-8 shooting from the floor, but all eight Lancers made big plays when the team had to have them.
 
Meanwhile, Martaz Robinson poured in 22 points for Delaware State, who had a four-game winning streak snapped when Jevin Muniz's buzzer-beating, game-winning attempt for three rimmed out as the clock hit zero.
 
"You're learning how to win," said Aldrich about the dividends a road win can bring in the future. "You're learning toughness. Obviously, you like to gain experience when you win, not when you lose, but part of the beauty of this particular team is that there is a desire to get better. So often, not only young people, but humans—myself included, we don't want to be told what we're doing wrong, and we don't want to learn. We get stubborn and prideful. This group wants to be good individually and collectively. When that happens, you can learn in wins because they're hungry to get better."
 
Longwood led for the majority of the contest, but it was never easy or comfortable. The Lancers had to earn every point to earn their ninth straight win.
 
Delaware State started in a zone, but Jesper Granlund had the perfect response. The senior coolly drained three triples to help Longwood jump out to a 28-20 lead.
 
Robinson answered for Delaware State to trim the game back to one-possession with a 6-0 run, but the Lancer defense stiffened up and kept Longwood in front down the stretch of the half. Napper buried a buzzer beating three for a 34-30 lead at the break.
 
"We were too disconnected, particularly in the first half, where we were just playing, especially on the offensive end," Aldrich said. "Obviously, the turnovers were a factor. Some of it, Delaware State gets credit for, and some of them were self-inflicted. We were driving the ball into the lane, trying to make a play where we needed to move the ball."
 
After halftime, Napper stayed hot and scored 11 of his 19 in the final 20 minutes. He banged down a triple with 13:12 to go for a 51-40 lead, giving Longwood its largest lead of the game. Meanwhile, the defense was making life difficult, as the Lancers held Delaware State to a .359 shooting percentage in the second half.
 
Every time Longwood had a chance to open the game up further though, Robinson responded for Delaware State, and the Hornet defense was a tough nut to crack the other direction.
 
After a pair of Robinson foul shots cut the Lancer lead to seven, Johnathan Massie scored four straight to re-establish an 11-point lead, 61-50, with 5:12 to play.
 
Delaware State scored nine straight in response to close the gap, but Napper hit a foul shot for a 62-59 Lancer lead. Deywilk Tavarez answered with a circus shot layup for Delaware State that cut the lead to 62-61.
 
The Hornets had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Muniz's three rattled out.
 
"Again, it's hard to win on the road against anybody," Aldrich added. "I'm really proud of our guys for finding a way to win and sticking it out and not being overly frustrated in tough conditions.
 
"Right now, 9-1, and to have several of those nine as tough road contests in tough places to play, I'm really proud of our guys."
 
The Lancers return home for a matchup against Gallaudet on Monday, December 11. Tip is set for 11 a.m., and it is education day at the Joan Perry Brock Center. The game will air on ESPN+ and on the radio on WVHL 92.9 Kickin' Country.
 
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