OPENING TIP
•   Longwood closes a two-game homestand by hosting a Gardner-Webb side that has won three straight games in Big South play.
•   The Lancers head on the road for their next two, with trips to High Point and Charleston Southern on tap.
•   The matchup with High Point wraps up the first half of Big South play.
•   Longwood's defense has only surrendered more than 70 points twice in Big South and is the only team giving up, on average, fewer than 70 points per game in conference play.
•   The defense leads the Big South in turnovers forced per game, and the team is second in turnover margin.
•   On offense, Longwood has scored better than 40 points in the paint per game, and it has outscored its opponent in the paint in all but three games this season.
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LAST TIME OUT
•   Longwood used a full team effort to take down Presbyterian 80-70 on Saturday afternoon.
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Szymon Zapala and
Walyn Napper each had a team-best 17 points, with Zapala adding 10 points for his fourth double-double of the season.
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Michael Christmas chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds.
Leo Nordberg added nine points, a career high. Six players had two assists apiece to tie for the team lead in the game.
•   The Lancers overcame 23 points from Samage Teel, who went 8-11 from the floor.
•   Presbyterian jumped out to an early nine point lead, but Longwood answered with an 18-4 run to take the lead at the half, 43-38.
•   Longwood extended the lead to 57-42 thanks to an early second-half run before Presbyterian cut the lead late.
Michael Christmas hit a crucial turnaround jumper, and the Lancers closed the game late at the free throw line.
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BY THE NUMBERS
•   Wednesday night is the 12th home game of the season for the Lancers.
•   Longwood is one of two teams in the Big South with at least 10 home wins, along with High Point.
•   On the season, Longwood has held opponents to fewer than 70 points 14 times.
•   The Lancers lead the Big South in scoring defense at 63.9 points per game allowed.
•   That mark ranks 18th in the nation.
•   The team's defense has held opponents to a .413 shooting percentage from the floor, the top mark in the league.
•   In Big South contests, the Lancers have held teams to a .285 shooting percentage from three, the top mark in the Big South.
•   The defense also forces a league-best 14.1 turnovers per game, which ranks 62nd in the nation.
•   The 63.5 points per game ranks 16th in the nation.
•   In Big South play, the Lancers have the best three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to .280 shooting from downtown.
•   Longwood's defenses forces an average of 14.3 turnovers per game, the top mark in the Big South.
•   The Lancers have also won the battle on the glass in all but two games this season and are 13-6 when doing so.
•   Opponents average only average 8.2 offensive boards per game, and teams have grabbed more than 10 offensive rebounds six times in 21 games this season against Longwood.
•   Meanwhile, the Lancers average 14 offensive boards per game, the top mark in the Big South and the 12th best number in the nation.
•   Longwood has grabbed at least 20 offensive boards three times, and they've had at least 15 offensive boards in 10 games.
•   The Lancers have a +11.2 rebounding margin, the fifth-best margin nationally and top mark in the Big South.
•   Thanks to the second chances, Longwood is averaging four more shots per game than their opposition.
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QUOTABLE
"This was a team win. Everybody contributed. I think Szymon was the player of the game [on the videoboard in the arena], but Walyn led us. Leo Nordberg really stepped in and contributed in the first half with some significant minutes. Emanuel Richards keeps playing better and better. He played 26 minutes as a freshman. That's pretty rare in this day in college athletics, and he was in at the end of the game. That's real growth from a lot of different guys."
—Longwood Head Coach Griff Aldrich after Presbyterian
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time Record vs. Gardner-Webb                  12-15
Under Coach Aldrich                                              6-2
Current Streak                                                        W 6
First Meeting                              L OT 79-77 12/5/1990
Last Meeting                                   W 75-63 2/23/2023
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•   Longwood swept the season series a year ago.
•   The Lancers won 75-63 at GWU on ESPNU as
Isaiah Wilkins had 14 points.
DA Houston added 13, and
Walyn Napper had 11 for four Lancers in double figures.
•   In the first game in Farmville,
Walyn Napper had a team-best 17 points to lead the way, and
Jesper Granlund added 10.
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#GoWood #HorsePower
