November 24, 2009
BOX SCORE
RICHMOND, Va. – Longwood University dropped a 65-52 men’s basketball decision on the road at the University of Richmond Tuesday night at the Robins Center in Richmond. In a contest much closer than the final score would indicate, the Lancers (0-5) were led by redshirt-senior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) with 16 points and seven rebounds. The Spiders (4-1) of the Atlantic 10 Conference needed a game-closing 26-4 run after trailing by nine with under nine minutes remaining and were led by the Kevin Anderson with a game-high 22 points. It was the second round of the South Padre Island Invitational as Longwood will play its third-round game in the exempt tournament on Friday, November 27, against Bethune-Cookman University at the South Padre Island Convention Centre on South Padre Island, Texas beginning at 1 p.m..
Longwood and Richmond played closely throughout as the game featured eight lead changes and nine ties, including five and eight, respectively, during the first 20 minutes. The Lancers led 11-9 at 15:53 as Smith scored six early points, and it was 20-17 in favor of the visitors at 11:53 on a three-point field goal from sophomore Martiz Washington/Hopewell (Christchurch). LU took its largest lead of the opening half at 24-19 with 10:47 left on a jumper by sophomore Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg). The Spiders rallied back with a 12-2 run to lead 31-26 at 4:50 behind six quick points from Anderson. Longwood, however, closed the half with an 8-2 run to lead 34-33 at the intermission for its first halftime lead this season behind Smith (12) and Carter (10).
Richmond led 39-36 early in the second half at 15:47 on another driving layup by Anderson. Longwood, though, used a 12-0 run to take its largest lead of the contest at 48-39 with 9:43 remaining as five different players scored, including a pair of free throws at 12:09 following a technical foul assessed to the UR bench. The Spiders fought back and finally tied it at 50-50 with 5:12 on the clock after another Anderson layup, and took the lead for good at 4:34 with their only three-pointer of the night to make it 53-50. It was 57-52 after a jumper by Smith at 2:37, and it appeared that it could have been a three or even a two-point game when Smith drove the lane and scored with a whistle at 1:35 but the foul was called offensive and the basket did not count. The hosts secured the late comeback for victory with 6-6 free throws over the final 1:17, closing on a 26-4 run over the final 8:47, including 10 points from Anderson who was 6-6 at the line during the last 3:36.
Smith led Longwood with his 16 points and seven rebounds. Carter finished 15 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Lancers, while Washington added nine points (3-7 3FG). LU shot 34% (20-59) from the field, including 21% (3-14) on three-pointers, and 75% (9-12) at the free throw line.
Anderson led Richmond with his game-high 22 points, adding six rebounds and three steals. Dan Geriot had 10 points for the Spiders. UR shot 45% (22-49) from the field, including 10% (1-10) on three-pointers, and 74% (20-27) at the line. The Spiders now lead the all-time series between the two schools at 3-0.