The Longwood Lancers men's basketball team continued its final month of competition by defeating Southern Virginia University last Thursday 103-84. The Lancers were led by senior Antwan Carter with 26 points and 14 rebounds, both game highs. It was Carter's seventh double-double this year.
Sophomore David Robinson also had a big night off the bench, scoring a career high 20 points. Robinson's classmate Tristan Carey continued his impressive 2011-12 season with 16 points. Senior Jeremiah Bowman had 15 points and a game high 10 assists for Longwood in his final on-court action before being suspended from the program. Longwood had six players total in double figures.
The Lancers came out slow against the Knights trailing 18-15 midway through the first half. However, two big shots from beyond the arc courtesy of senior Martiz Washington spearheaded a 27-4 run by Longwood. The Lancers continued to dominate, stretching out a hefty lead 51-33 at the half point.
The Knights closed the gap in the second half, cutting the lead to 68-55 with under 13 minutes left in regulation. That was as close as they would get, however, as Longwood pulled back out to a 78-57 advantage. Following a steal at mid-court, Bowman connected with Carey for a lob and dunk. Carey also had a two-handed jam early in the second half. Both brought the home crowd to their feet.
Justin Langford led the visiting Knights with 18 points. Casey Nye scored 13 and Isaac Jacobson and Payton Brooks scored 10 apiece for the visitors. It was the first game in front of a home crowd this semester for the men's team.
After the home victory against SVU, the men's team travelled to Orangeburg, S.C. on Monday to take on South Carolina State University. Longwood dropped the road contest 74-58. Carter again led the Lancers with game-highs of 19 points and 12 rebounds, yet another double-double. Carter also passed the 1,700 career point mark and is third on the all-time list. He needs to average 11.6 points in each of the final eight games to move past all-time scoring leader Kevin Jefferson who scored 1,806 career points at Longwood.
Carey had another big night with 18 points. Washington and Robinson rounded out the high scorers for the Lancers with 10 and eight points respectively. Robinson was making his first career college start in place of the suspended Bowman.
The Lancers were down three points at the half, 35-32. SCSU outscored LU 12-3 to open the second half. The Bulldogs kept the Lancers at bay leading 58-50 with eight minutes left. SCSU secured the win with a three pointer with 17 seconds left. It was the Bulldogs' first win in 16 games. Devin Joint scored 16 points for the home team.
The loss dropped the Lancers to 8-15 on the season. Bowman's suspension, coupled with injuries to Mark Parker, Jeff Havenstein and Jeylani Dublin, have left the Lancers shorthanded. Havenstein has a sprained big toe on one foot and is still working to get back on the court. Parker has been in a walking boot for multiple weeks after sustaining a fracture in his foot. Dublin has been in a cast with an injured hand. Seven players were in uniform for Longwood on Monday. Carey, Washington, Carter and Robinson all played over 35 minutes in South Carolina.
"We've been depleted by circumstances and injuries to the point where the numbers put us in a tenuous position," said head coach Mike Gillian. "Mark, Jeff and Jeylani have all been out. That coupled with Durann leaving earlier this season puts us in a difficult spot. We need to play as much like normal as possible. Normally, we play at a tempo that's in the top tier of all programs in the country. We can still get shot opportunities. It does change player responsibilities a little bit. It does change because the tempo is not going to be the same. How we look to score is the same. You move forward with what you have."
The men's team plays again this Saturday, Feb. 11 at home against Seattle University. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. Saturday is Longwood Basketball Reunion Day as former players Jerome Kersey (Class of 1984), Kevin Jefferson (Class of 1990), Maurice Sumter (Class of 2007), Dana Smith (Class of 2010) and others are scheduled to be in attendance.
