December 12, 2008

COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University will return to action in men's basketball on Sunday, December 14, following a break for fall semester examinations with its first-ever game at Virginia Tech.  The contest in Blacksburg against the Hokies of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) will tip-off at 2 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum (9,847).  Longwood (5-4) is coached by sixth-year head coach Mike Gillian, and will be led by 6-5 redshirt-junior guard/forward Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) who is averaging 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.  Virginia Tech (5-4) is coached by sixth-year head coach Seth Greenberg and is led by 6-6 senior forward/guard A.D. Vassallo (18.9 points, 6.7 rebounds).  The game can be heard locally on WVHL Radio, Kickin' Country 92.9 FM as well as on Internet via TEAMLINE linked at right.  Additionally, the game will be shown live on www.ACCSelect.com.

Series History
Longwood and Virginia Tech are meeting for the first-time ever in the sport of men's basketball.  The Lancers are 0-5 all-time against Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) schools, having previously played road games at Virginia (0-3), Boston College (0-1), and Wake Forest (0-1).  Last year, Longwood fell by scores of 76-57 at Virginia (12.7.07) and 81-52 at Boston College (1.2.08).  The Lancers' other two games at Virginia resulted in scores of 90-49 (2.13.07) and 91-56 (2.15.06).  Longwood fell by a score of 88-47 at #6 Wake Forest (2.23.05).  Average margin of defeat against an ACC school: 33.0 points.

A Look At Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech has a record of 5-4 after its 67-66 road loss at Georgia on Tuesday (12.9), its fourth loss this season by four points or less, and second one-point setback.  Against the Bulldogs, the Hokies were led by senior A.D. Vassallo with a game-high 23 points (4-6 3FG).  Virginia Tech is coached by sixth-year head coach Seth Greenberg (5-4 / 93-74 / 306-244).  VT is led by Vassallo (18.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 25-66 3FG) along with sophomores Malcolm Delaney (15.8 points, 3.9 assists) and 6-7, 230-pound Jeff Allen (14.2 points, 8.4 rebounds.  Virginia Tech and Longwood do have one common opponent this season in Gardner-Webb: the Hokies won 65-62 on their home floor (11.14) and the Lancers won 85-84 on their home floor (11.18).

A Look At Longwood
Longwood has a record of 5-4 after its second-straight victory, a 79-76 home win past James Madison (12.3), its best start to a season since first playing a full Division I schedule in 2004-05, and finest overall since 2002-03.  The Lancers played their first nine games in 19 days to open this season, including three road games and two neutral-site games in Las Vegas.  Longwood is led by redshirt-junior Dana Smith (16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds), senior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) (14.2 points, 20-54 3FG, 4.4 rebounds), and junior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) (9.6 points, 12-38 3 FG).

Playing The Commonwealth
Longwood has played 11 of the other 13 Division I schools located within the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2003-04.  They include Hampton, James Madison, Liberty, Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Radford, Richmond, Virginia, VCU, VMI, along with William and Mary.  The Lancers add #12 to the list this year while in Blacksburg to play Virginia Tech.  The only other Virginia school that has not been scheduled previously is George Mason.  However, Longwood has indeed scrimmaged against the Patriots during preseason on two occasions, including just prior to the start of 2006-07 when George Mason made its remarkable run to the NCAA Final Four.

The Unkind Road
Longwood has traveled to 26 different states and Washington, D.C. while playing 81 games away from Farmville during the last four-plus years, including 67 true road games (5-62).  The Lancers' favorite states to visit since 2004-05 include North Carolina (7) and Nevada (4) along with the District of Columbia (4).  Longwood's record is 4-10 in the 14 neutral-site games.

A True Inspiration & Team Leader
Dana Smith has junior-eligibility after being granted medical hardship waivers following each of the past two seasons for knee injuries.  He has started 41 of 82 career games, including 35 consecutive games around the two season-ending injuries over the past three years.  Smith is averaging a team-best 16.4 points (58%?FG) and 7.3 rebounds, and was named to the Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 19.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in the four games against West Virginia (11.20, 17 points), Kentucky (11.24, 18 points), Southeast Missouri State (11.28, 26 points), and Delaware State (11.29, 18 points).  He ranks 47th nationally in Division I field goal percentage (58.1, 61-105), and leads the team in 12 statistical categories this season.  Smith totals 664 career points and 351 career rebounds, including career-highs of 26 points and 11 rebounds this year.  He has already earned a bachelor of science degree in sociology from Longwood (May 2008), and is now working toward his second degree in business marketing.  Smith's first collegiate knee injury occurred at Norfolk State (11.15.06 - right knee - two menisci), and the second was at James Madison (12.5.07 - left knee - ACL) after which he underwent successful reconstructive surgery (12.27.07); it was his third knee injury in four years, including one as a high school senior (right knee - 11.17.03 - ACL).

For more game notes and statistical information, please download the PDF linked above ...