WASHINGTON, D.C. – A team effort keyed Longwood men's basketball past Maine on the second day of the Capital Thanksgiving Classic this afternoon.
 
Elijah Tucker powered home 13 points on the interior, and Jaylen Benard chipped in 13 on the perimeter as four Lancers (4-4) scored in double figures in a 65-61 win over Maine (0-8). It was the fifth time this season that the Lancers have had at least four players score in double figures.
 
Jacoi Hutchinson and Emanuel Richards both put home 11 points apiece as the Lancers had the edge on the boards, in the paint and at the foul line to snap a three-game losing streak.
 
That proved to be enough to fend off a feisty Maine side that got off to a hot start from three after halftime behind Logan Carey. Carey had nine of his 13 in the second half, and Mekhi Gray added three timely triples en route to a game-high 16 points.

"I love that it took everyone," said Longwood Head Coach Ronnie Thomas. "We only had 10 guys in unifortm due to injuries, and all 10 played and contributed to the win. We had guys in new positions on a zero-day prep, and that is hard. I cannot give enough credit to our guys on finding a way, whether it is pretty or not. Getting it done and finding a way is a skill you can build out as a team as well."
 
Defense was the name of the game in the first half, as both sides held the opposing offenses to fewer than 30 points.
 
That favored Longwood thanks to Tucker's bruising presence inside. He scored six of the team's first eight points for an early 10-5 lead.
 
However, Maine slowly whittled away the lead and tied the game at 20 apiece with seven minutes to go in the half.
 
Richards ignited a Longwood run while the Lancer defense held Maine scoreless for more than six-and-a-half minutes. Jaylin Payne capped the 9-0 spurt with a layup for a 29-20 lead, and the Lancers led 29-22 at the half. The 22 points were the second-fewest Longwood has allowed in a half this season as the defense held Maine to .364 (8-22) shooting from the floor.
 
In the second half, both offenses were crisper, and Maine vaulted right back into the game. The Black Bears forced a trio of turnovers and hit three triples amid a 16-8 spurt to take a 38-37 lead.
 
After the two teams traded buckets, Alphonzo Billups III jumpstarted an 8-0 Longwood run with a floater, followed by three-balls from Benard and Richards for a 49-41 Lancer advantage.
 
Carey ended the run, though, and proceeded to score Maine's next seven points as the game stayed within two possessions in the waning minutes.
 
Both sides struggled on the day from the foul line, but the Lancers hit enough to keep Maine at bay late for the 65-61 win.
 
Longwood wraps up the Capital Thanksgiving Classic with its third game in three days when it plays the tournament host American on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. The game will air on ESPN+.
 
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