FARMVILLE, Va. – Bow ties, balance and ballers. The
Ronnie Thomas era of Longwood Basketball is off to a winning start.
Johan Nziemi had 16 points and 9 rebounds, Jacoi Huthcinson had 15 points and
Jaylen Benard tied a career high with 14 points as what looks like a deep Longwood team launched its 2025-26 men's basketball season with a 92-55 win over Mary Baldwin Monday night – the first career head coaching victory for the Lancers' new leader after five years as an assistant.
Room for improvement, sure. But all in all a successful first official outing before a much tougher test Friday at ACC opponent Pittsburgh.
And a moment to savor – if only briefly – for the Lancers' new head coach, sporting the signature neckcloth that seems destined to become a Longwood basketball emblem.
"It was a great opening night for us in a lot of ways," Thomas said afterward. "It was just finally good for the guys to get out here in front of fans. The lights were a little brighter, just get some of the jitters out."
Opening the team's third season in the JPB in front of a strong and boisterous crowd of 2,341, Longwood (1-0) gave fans their first look at a squad with lots of new faces. But it was the returners – with experience dating back to Longwood's 2024 Big South championship run – who led the way in the opener, overcoming a sluggish first-half.
Three returning Lancers were among the starters – Nziemi, Tucker and Emmanuel Richards – and all three contributed to a dominant inside game that overpowered Mary Baldwin. Longwood outrebounded the Division III Squirrels 48-21, scored 54 points in the paint and shot only nine 3-pointers.
There were also sparks of excitement from new Lancers, including VCU-transfer Alphonso Billups, whose steal and dunk 5:23 before halftime gave Longwood a 30-26 lead, sparking the crowd and beginning to provide separation in what had been a back-and-forth first half as a pesky Mary Baldwin squad managed to force turnovers and stay close. The Lancers led 44-34 at the break, thanks in large part to Nziemi's 12 first-half points and six boards. But after briefly closing the gap to 8, Mary Baldwin never got closer as Longwood pulled away decisively after halftime.
"I really liked our second half," Thomas said. "We challenged the guys – it doesn't matter who we're playing or what the scoreboard says – we want to play to our standard. We rebounded better in the second half. All the things we want to be good at we did better than in the second half."
Eleven different Lancers scored.
Elijah Jones added nine points, and Tucker had 11 points and eight rebounds. Benard also had nine rebounds.
Raymond Benton led the way with 14 points for Mary Baldwin.
It's always hard to infer much from early-season contests against D-III opponents. Still, the Lancers' second-half performance Monday gives fans reason for optimism as the team begins its campaign for a fifth straight winning season and a run at a third Big South championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in five years.
The road gets much harder Friday against Pittsburgh, but also offers Longwood an opportunity for its first-ever victory over an ACC opponent before returning home for a much-anticipated matchup against James Madison in the JPB on November 12. The Lancers will get another shot at an ACC opponent December 17 at Wake Forest.
"It starts now," Thomas said of the Lancers' preparation for PIttsburgh. "They have to have the mindset, we can go get these guys, we can go win.""
"Once the lights cut on up there we'll be prepared and ready and we'll show them what Longwood's all about."
#GoWood #HorsePower
