11.17.2011

PROVO, Utah – Longwood University will open its men's basketball competition in the four-game exempt Chicago Invitational Challenge at Brigham Young University of the West Coast Conference Friday night, November 18, beginning at 9 p.m. ET in Provo, Utah.  The Lancers (1-2) are coached by Mike Gillian, and led by seniors Jeremiah Bowman|Washington, D.C. (Harcum JC) (19.0 points, 3.7 assists) and Antwan Carter|St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) (17.7 points, 12.7 rebounds).  The Cougars (1-1) are coached by Dave Rose, and led by junior Brandon Davies (19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds) and senior Noah Hartsock (16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds).  The BYU game will be televised on BYUtv available via DIRECTV® channel 374 or online at byutv.org, and the game can be heard locally on WVHL Radio, Kickin' Country 92.9 FM as well as via TEAMLINE.

LONGWOOD @BYU
Date: November 18, 2011
Site: Provo, Utah
Facility: Marriott Center (22,700)
Tip: 9 p.m. ET
Game Notes (PDF)
Radio: WVHL-FM 92.9
Talent: Scott Bacon
Internet: TEAMLINE
Live Stats
Live Video
Series: First Meeting

Series History
Longwood and Brigham Young are meeting first time ever in the sport of men's basketball.  It is, however, the second meeting for the Lancers against a member of the West Coast Conference.  LU has played at San Francisco (12.10.04), falling 82-49 during the Northwestern Mutual Shootout hosted by USF that season.  Ironically, Longwood will play another West Coast member later this season when at Gonzaga (2.27.12).

Chicago Invitational Challenge
Longwood is participating in the exempt four-game Chicago Invitational Challenge November 18-26.  The first two games of the tournament will take place on the road at Brigham Young (11.18) and Nevada (11.22) before the opportunity to play two neutral-site games at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois against Prairie View A&M (11.25) and either UMKC or Wofford (11.26).  It is the Lancers' second appearance in the Chicago Invitational (2007).  Wisconsin and Bradley are also in the eight-team field.

A Look At BYU
BYU is coached by Dave Rose who is in his seventh year with the program, compiling a record of 160-46, including 1-1 this season after a 73-52 home win past BYU-Hawaii (11.15) that followed a 69-62 road loss at Utah State (11.11).  Junior forward Brandon Davies (19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds) and senior forward Noah Hartsock (16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds) have led the Cougars through two games, joined in the lineup by senior guard-forward Charles Abouo (10.0 points), junior forward Stephen Rogers (6.0 points), and junior guard-forward Brock Zylstra (4.5 points).  BYU averages 67.5 points while shooting 48% from the field, including 26% on three-point field goals, and 68% at the line -- allowing opponents 60.5 points.

A Look At Longwood
Longwood is 1-2 after its 87-83 home loss to Canisius (11.15).  Senior guard Jeremiah Bowman (19.0 points, 3.7 assists) and senior center Antwan Carter (17.7 points, 12.7 rebounds) have led the Lancers through three games, joined in the lineup by senior guard Martiz Washington (10.0 points, 7 3FGs), redshirt-senior Durann Neil (8.3 points, 3.3 assists), and senior forward Jan van der Kooij (4.3 points, 6.3 rebounds).  LU averages 81.3 points while shooting 45% from the field, including 32% on three-point field goals, and 55% at the line -- allowing opponents 79.3 points.

It Adds Up …
Longwood traveled approximately 17,832 miles last season for 17 games away from Farmville.  The Lancers visited 12 different states, including first-time visits to both North Dakota and Wisconsin.  The total mileage included 11,992 miles on airplanes, and 5,840 miles on chartered buses.  It's approximately 2,675 miles from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, thus, Longwood traveled the equivalent of 6.67 trips across the United States from East Coast to West Coast a year ago.

… To An Unkind Road
Longwood has traveled to 29 different states and Washington, D.C. while playing 126 games (16-110) away from Farmville during the last seven years of Division I scheduling.  This is an average of 18.3 non-home games per year, and includes totals of 108 true road games (11-97) and 18 neutral-site games (5-13).

2011-12 Mileage Totals
Longwood will travel to 12 different states for 16 true road games and three neutral-site games on the schedule, and will include first-time visits to the states of New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Washington; increasing the states visited to 32.  The Lancers will travel approximately 19,772 miles this season, including 11,997 miles on airplanes, and 7,775 miles on chartered buses; that's 7.39 trips across the country.  Unfortunately, such frequent travel and high mileage is nothing new to the Lancers' Division I Independent program that traveled a high of approximately 21,222 miles during 2004-05, the school's first year of competition against a full Division I schedule.

For more game information and notes on the Lancers, please see the Game Notes (PDF) linked above.