FARMVILLE, Va. – Elijah Tucker feasted in the paint, Jacoi Hutchinson fed him at every opportunity, and Longwood cruised past Gardner-Webb 91-56 on Wednesday night at the Joan Perry Brock Center.
 
Tucker was a force all night long for the Lancers (11-10, 3-3 Big South) en route to his third straight game with a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Hutchinson had a career high 10 assists to go with 14 points.
 
While Tucker and Hutchinson did damage on the offensive end, Jaylen Benard and Alphonzo Billups III wreaked havoc on the defensive end. Billups put up a season-high 15 points while grabbing three steals, and Benard stuffed the stat sheets with 10 points, six rebounds, two assists and a career-best five steals.
 
"I just asked them to leave no doubt," said Longwood Head Coach Ronnie Thomas. "Going out, and every possession, wanting to win the possession. You talk about X's and O's, talk about what you want to do, but it was, 'Guys, just win.' Sometimes it's not going to be perfect. It's not going to be pretty, but find a way to win that possession. It's going to take multiple efforts, probably, but be willing to do that. Don't leave any doubt or think about what you could have done or didn't do, just do it and be okay with the result. I thought they did that to a high standard today. I challenged them for 40, and I think they maybe gave me 33 or 34, but we've got to keep fighting for 40."
 
Emanuel Richards finished with 11 points, and Redd Thompson Jr. added 10 as the Lancers had a season-best six players score in double figures.
 
The Lancer depth made life tough for Gardner-Webb (2-19, 0-6 Big South) on offense. Longwood held Gardner-Webb to 38 percent shooting from the floor while also forcing 21 turnovers. Colin Hawkins led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 14 points while DJ Jefferson added 10.
 
The Lancers jumped out to an early lead behind a 9-0 run thanks to five points from Tucker that gave the team a 12-3 lead with 16:27 to go in the first half.
 
Gardner-Webb pulled back to within five, but Billups promptly scored five straight to put the Lancers back up by 10.
 
Meanwhile the defense kept the Runnin' Bulldogs at 10 points for more than six minutes while the lead grew to 28-10 on Benard's free throws with 8:24 to go in the half. Turnovers fueled the Lancers in the opening 20 minutes, with Longwood scoring 20 points off turnovers en route to a 42-24 lead.
 
The story stayed much the same in the second half as the Lancers were in complete command of the contest.
 
"We just have to keep taking steps in this journey," Thomas added about how his team played together and shared the ball. "I think I told you last time we talked, we are nowhere near where we are going to be, and that's the exciting thing. These guys believe. They really, really like each other. Honestly, truthfully, they probably love each other, especially some of these guys being around for three years. I think that belief and that love can really carry these guys as we go down into February and get deeper into conference play."
 
Longwood returns to the court on Saturday when the team hosts Charleston Southern at noon, with the game airing on ESPN+. It is Greek Day at the Joan Perry Brock Center, and fans are encouraged to wear white to promote the whiteout. As part of a partnership with Aramark, the concession stand will feature fan-friendly prices with fans able to purchase select alcohol options for $5. In addition, a purchase of a drink (including fountain drinks) will come with a free popcorn.
 
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