CLINTON, S.C. – Elijah Tucker powered in 20 points for Longwood men's basketball, but Presbyterian used a trio of players in double figures and a defense that limited Longwood (11-5, 0-1 Big South) after halftime to win 68-60 in the Big South opener for both teams.
 
The redshirt-junior was the lone Lancer in double figures and went 8-11 from the floor in the game.
 
However, Kory Mincy scored 11 of his 15 after halftime for PC (8-8, 1-0 Big South), including the go-ahead free throws late. Kaleb Scott added a team-best 16, and Kobe Stewart chipped in 13 for the Blue Hose.
 
The game seesawed back and forth, with the score tied six times while the lead changed hands eight more times. Neither team led by double figures.
 
"It was a tough day for the Lancers in many respects," said Longwood Head Coach Griff Aldrich. "In conference play, the margin for victory and losses becomes very narrow. While we did not shoot the ball well today, we had too many other self-imposed execution errors to be able to win on the road."
 
Tucker scored four of Longwood's first six points for an early 6-2 lead, but Presbyterian answered with 10 straight points to set the tone of trading runs.
 
Longwood bounced back and slowly whittled the lead back before Jaylen Benard drained a triple to knot the game at 16 all with 11 minutes to go in the half.
 
Johan Nziemi polished off a pass from Colby Garland for an 18-16 lead one possession later. Tucker extended the lead to 24-18 a few minutes later, but Presbyterian responded. Scott provided repeated answers throughout the first half, scoring 12 of his 16 in the opening 20 minutes.
 
The Lancers held a tenuous lead for the rest of the first half, and Benard's jumper gave them a 36-33 advantage at the break.
 
After halftime, the score stayed tight, and Longwood led 40-37 on a pair of Michael Christmas foul shots with 18:12 to play.
 
Presbyterian's defense tightened up and didn't surrender a point for the next 7:33, but Longwood's defense managed to keep the Lancers close as the Blue Hose scored nine points in the span to take a 46-40 lead.
 
Colby Garland ended the dry spell, but offense became a struggle from that point on for the Lancers as the Blue Hose extended the lead to nine a few possessions later.
 
The Lancers, as they have so often, scratched and clawed their way back into the game. Tucker tipped a ball in to start a 12-2 Longwood run. Garland hit a layup for a 56-55 lead with 4:37 to play to cap the rally.
 
The two sides traded buckets before Mincy hit three straight free throws to give his team the lead for good, 60-58, with 3:18 to play.
 
"Credit PC for playing hard and continually making plays—offensive rebounds and securing loose balls—that I believe were the difference in the game," Aldrich added. "We will learn from this loss and reset and be ready to compete at a higher level on Saturday night.
 
Longwood returns home to host Charleston Southern on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The game will air on ESPN+ with Sam Hovan and John Feinstein on the call.
 
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