December 14, 2008

BOX SCORE

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a 79-57 men's basketball road decision Sunday afternoon at Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in Blacksburg.  The Hokies (6-4) needed a late 16-0 run to pull away from the stubborn Lancers (5-5) who had closed to within 56-50 with 7:31 remaining in the contest at Cassell Coliseum.  Virginia Tech was led by A.D. Vassallo with a game-high 21 points, while Longwood was led by redshirt-junior Dana Smith/Woodbridge, Va. (C.D. Hylton) with 13 points.  Longwood will play again on Wednesday, December 17, at the University of Virginia, also of the ACC, at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville beginning at 7 p.m..
   
Longwood led early at Virginia Tech, taking a 9-6 advantage at 17:17 on a three-point field goal by Smith before the hosts scored nine unanswered points to lead 15-9 at 10:21 on a basket inside from 6-7, 230-pound Jeff Allen who had eight quick points.  The Lancers were within 18-16 at 7:47 on a layup from freshman Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg), but the Hokies closed the half with a 19-5 run to lead 37-21 at the intermission as Allen had already posted a double-double at the break with 15 points and 10 rebounds.  Vassallo scored 10 first-half points as well for VT.
   
Longwood, however, refused to go away in the second half and battled back into the contest while forcing eight turnovers in the first eight minutes while closing to within 52-47 at 11:38.  Smith scored seven points during the 26-15 run by the Lancers, while senior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) contributed two three-pointers and sophomore Brandon Evans/Roanoke (Roanoke Catholic) came off the bench to score four quick points as well.  Evans added two free throws at 8:13 as the visitors only trailed 56-50, but Virginia Tech eliminated any doubt of the outcome with its 16-0 run starting with 7:31 left to lead 72-50 at 3:00 on a pair of free throws from Vassallo who scored nine points during the outburst.
   
Smith led Longwood with his 13 points, including 3-4 from three-point territory, adding a career-high five steals before fouling out.  Carter finished with a career-high 10 points while playing just 14 minutes before fouling out as well for the Lancers.  Bogan added nine points (3-7 3FG), five assists, and a career-high four steals, and Evans contributed a career-high six points along with four rebounds and one block in 12 minutes.  LU shot 30% (20-67) from the field, including 35% (9-26) on three-pointers, and 62% (8-13) at the free throw line.  The Lancers made a season-high 15 steals against the Hokies while forcing 23 turnovers by the hosts.
   
Vassallo led Virginia Tech with his game-high 21 points, adding nine rebounds, while Allen had his double-double of 19 points and a career-high 21 rebounds for the Hokies.  Malcolm Delaney and Terrell Bell each added 12 points.  VT shot 46% (24-52) from the field, including 36% (5-14) on three-pointers, and 74% (26-35) at the line.  The Hokies did out-rebound Longwood 52-27.

It was the first-ever meeting between Longwood and Virginia Tech in men's basketball.