February 28, 2009

BOX SCORE

DURHAM, N.C. – Longwood University dropped an 82-64 men's basketball decision on the road at North Carolina Central University Saturday night in Durham, North Carolina. The Lancers (16-14) were led by sophomore Durann Neil/Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy) with 12 points.  The Eagles (3-26) were led by 5-10 freshman Jamar Briscoe with a career-high 37 points as the hosts avenged a 109-89 loss to LU in Farmville just three nights ago (Feb. 25).  Longwood will play its final game of the season on Wednesday, March 4, on the road at NJIT in Newark, New Jersey beginning at 7 p.m..
 
Longwood led 7-4 early after a three-point field goal from junior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) at 15:20.  North Carolina Central, however, answered with a 26-3 run to lead 30-10 at 8:16 as Briscoe (13) and Nick Chasten (9) combined for 22 of the points.  The Lancers regrouped and put together an 18-8 run to close to within 38-28 just before the break (0:36) on a jumper by Neil but the Eagles scored the final basket of the half to lead 40-28 at the intermission.  Briscoe had 21 points at halftime, while Chasten had already scored 11 points for the hosts off the bench.
 
North Carolina Central scored the first four points of the second half on baskets from Brian Ayala and Briscoe to lead 44-28 at 19:26.  Longwood responded with a 12-2 run to pull within 46-40 at 15:49 as Swecker scored five quick points.  It was as close as the Lancers would get, however, as the Eagles answered with a 15-2 run to lead 61-42 with 12:08 remaining.  The second-half blitz featured back-to-back three-pointers by Briscoe as the hosts took control for good.  NCCU led by as many as 23 points on three different occasions, including 81-58 at 2:11.
 
Neil finished with 12 points to lead Longwood, while Swecker had 10 points and three steals.  Freshman Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) contributed eight points off the bench for the Lancers.  LU shot 37% (19-51) from the field, including 20% (3-15) on three-point field goals, and 68% (23-34) at the free throw line.  Longwood had a season-high 26 turnovers, while leading scorers, redshirt-junior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) (15.0) and senior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) (14.4), combined for just eight points (1-12 FG).
 
Briscoe finished with a career-high 37 points (14-222 FG), adding eight rebounds to lead North Carolina Central, while Chasten had 11 points.  Ayala contributed 11 points for the Eagles.  NCCU shot 54% (34-63) from the field, including 57% (17-30) in the second half, 28% (5-18) on three-pointers, and 64% (9-14) at the line.  N.C. Central was able to even the all-time series between the two schools at 1-1 while avenging its 109-89 road loss to Longwood in Virginia earlier this week (Feb. 25) when Briscoe scored 34 points.