The struggles continued for the Longwood men’s basketball team as they fell on the road to Gardner-Webb, 90-64, on Feb. 4. The defeat was the ninth-straight for the Lancers, who drop to 6-17 (3-9) while the Runnin’ Bulldogs improved to 14-11 (7-5).
Coming into the showdown in Boiling Springs, N.C., the Lancers had struggled in 2017 with a lone win preceding a month-long losing streak. Their defensive deficiencies were significant, and they continued against a Gardner-Webb team that shot 54 percent from the field.
"We didn't shoot the ball well early, and Gardner-Webb's ability to get some really big threes early certainly extended the lead," said head coach Jayson Gee on the official Longwood athletics website.
The hosts controlled from the opening tip with senior forward Tyrell Nelson and redshirt sophomore guard David Efianayi each reaching double-figures in the first half.
Redshirt junior forward Khris Lane responded with 11 first-half points of his own, but the Lancers still trailed 45-28 at the break.
The second half brought continued the one-way traffic, with Efianayi collecting another 10 points after halftime. The Runnin’ Bulldogs also dominated the boards in the second half, out-rebounding Longwood 23-15 in the final 20 minutes.
Despite another solid performance from Lane, who earned 16 points and six rebounds, the only other significant scorer for the Lancers was redshirt sophomore guard Isaiah Walton. Walton matched his counterpart Efianayi with 20 points and three assists while also snatching three steals.
Along with Efianayi’s 20 points, the hosts also had 15 from Nelson and sophomore guard LaQuincy Rideau, who also had a whopping eight steals.
"Gardner-Webb's one of the better teams in the league at stealing the basketball," said Gee on the official Longwood athletics website. "LaQuincy Rideau, he just does a great job anticipating. When you think you're open, he's right there. I have to tip my hat to him and to their team. Rideau was really exceptional today in that area, and we just have to be more disciplined with the basketball."
The Lancers gave up 90 points for the third time in their past four games, and there seems to be no solution to stop the defensive rot.
"You can see it in their body language that they're really wearing down, but my hat's off to our guys for continuing to fight through adversity," Gee said on the official Longwood athletics website. "They're still being asked to do a lot with not much in the tank."
Next up for the Lancers is another road clash with Campbell on Feb. 9. Longwood will hope to pick up their second win of the calendar year and prevent their losing skid from reaching double-digits.
