FARMVILLE, Va. – In a physical battle, Michael Christmas powered in 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead Longwood men's basketball at Winthrop on Wednesday night.
 
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as the Lancers (12-4, 0-1 Big South) fell 68-60 in overtime.
 
Winthrop (10-6, 1-0 Big South) repeatedly attacked the basket after halftime, shooting 25 free throws in the final 20 minutes of regulation. Kelton Talford and Nick Johnson shot nine free throws apiece, and Kasen Harrison shot eight more in the contest. All three matched with 15 points as four Eagles scored in double digits.
 
Christmas led Longwood with his fourth double-double of the season, and Walyn Napper, Szymon Zapala and DA Houston each chipped in 10 points apiece.
 
"The whole game, I thought we got outcompeted," Aldrich said. "I thought we played okay, but they had eight offensive rebounds in the first half. I didn't think we played with great energy and urgency, and I thought we just played with them. I thought they outcompeted us. Which is something within your control, and you can handle that. That's a disappointment."
 
In the first half, Winthrop hit a pair of early threes amid a choppy start for both teams.
 
Longwood responded by digging in and defending to scratch back into the game. The defense fueled the offense, and DA Houston drained a triple for a 19-18 lead late in the half. The Lancers closed the half with a 6-2 spurt to take a 25-20 lead at the break.
 
After halftime, the Lancers extended the lead multiple times. Christmas had six points amid an early flurry, and Longwood led by double figures briefly.
 
Winthrop trimmed it to four as Harrison and Talford alternated rim attacks and free throws. But Christmas ripped off five straight to give Longwood a 48-39 lead with 8:23 to play.
 
However, Winthrop slowly chipped away, and KJ Doucet knotted the game at 55 with 34 seconds to play. He had 10 points in the game.
 
"We had good individual play," Aldrich said. "I just didn't think we had five guys connected playing together, playing urgently. We had it in stretches. We extended a lead, and we were really good defensively, but then we dipped. They started driving us, and there was a foul called or a basket scored every time down. It doesn't matter whether the fouls are called or not. You have to elevate your game and stop them. And we just didn't do that."
 
Both sides had a look in the final 30 seconds, but they were off target to send the game to overtime.
 
The two sides were tight early in the extra period before Johnson created separation with five straight points for a 62-57 Winthrop lead that effectively iced the game.
 
Longwood returns home to take on Charleston Southern on Saturday afternoon. Tip is set for 3 p.m. The game will air on ESPN+ and on the radio on WVHL 92.9 Kickin' Country.
 
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