Press Release from Longwood Athletics
Longwood University eighth-year men's basketball head coach Mike Gillian has announced that his NCAA Division I program will play a Blue/White Scrimmage on Thursday night, Nov. 4, in Willett Hall beginning at 7 p.m. The intra-squad game will be open to the public with free admission for everyone, and fans will have an opportunity to meet the 2010-11 Lancers immediately following the contest. Everyone is encouraged to bring cameras and pens to take photographs and obtain autographs. This will be the public's only opportunity to see the team in action before the regular season opens on the road Nov. 12 at the University of Kansas in Lawrence at the Allen Fieldhouse beginning at 8 p.m.
"We are always looking for new ways to have the players in our men's basketball program build on the relationships they are developing with the local community," explained Coach Gillian. "What better way than opening up practice for a night and scrimmaging so people can get a look at this year's team before the season gets started, and then simply have everyone spend some time together in the gym afterwards. Our guys are really looking forward to this event; it promises to be fun and entertaining for the whole family."
Coach Gillian returns eight lettermen from last season while adding seven newcomers for this year. Longwood finished 12-19 a year ago, including 9-3 at home in Willett Hall where the program is 22-5 over the past two years and 43-20 during the past five seasons. The top returning Lancers include junior Antwan Carter|St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg), senior Aaron Mitchell|Matoaca (Manatee CC), and junior Martiz Washington|Hopewell (Christchurch). Carter (6-6, 225) averaged 14.6 points and 8.5 rebounds last season while earning 1st-Team All-Independent. Mitchell (6-2, 190) averaged 9.0 points and 3.5 rebounds a year ago, and Washington (6-0, 175) averaged 8.3 points and 2.3 rebounds while leading the team with 64 three-point field goals. The program also returns redshirt-junior Durann Neil|Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy) who averaged 7.1 points and 3.9 assists as a starter in 2008-09. Neil (6-2, 205) missed last year due to injury, but is back fully recovered for the upcoming season.
Longwood has added a strong group of newcomers for this year, including junior transfer Jeremiah Bowman|Washington, D.C. (Harcum College) (6-2, 188), along with freshmen Mark Parker|Clayton, N.C. (West Johnston) (6-7, 192), David Robinson|Chesterfield (Cosby) (6-4, 185), and Anthony Taylor|Egg Harbor Township, N.J. (Egg Harbor Township) (6-2, 200).
Longwood will play its first home game in Farmville on Thursday, Nov. 18, hosting Virginia-Wise at 7 p.m.
