Conway, South Carolina- Following David versus Goliath comparisons leading into the game by media syndicates, No. 9 seed Longwood (11-22) upset the No. 1 seed Charleston Southern Buccaneers (CSU) (19-11), 68-60, in the HTC Center at Coastal Carolina University.
“What people don't see is the resiliency we have with the love we have for each other,” said Head Coach Jayson Gee during the press conference following the match.
The game featured the number one overall player in the Big South, senior guard Saah Nimley, who averages 21.5 points per game and was named conference player of the year.
Using a combination of switching man to man while forcing the Buccaneers to become an inside team, the Lancers held CSU to eight points in the paint behind four blocks.
Longwood junior forward Shaquille Johnson dominated early in the game with ten points and eight rebounds in the first half.
The Lancers forced eight first half turnovers, earning the team the first lead of the game.
CSU senior guard Arlon Harper lead the Buccaneers in the first half with seven points and four rebounds while Nimley was held to just four points with two turnovers.
Longwood posted 16 points in the paint and kept CSU 34.8 percent (8-of-23) on the defensive side. Both teams hit all of their free throws for the half; Longwood shot five and CSU shot two from the line.
The second half saw a slow start for the Lancers as CSU went on a 12-2 run filled with fouls and turnovers, including a technical foul from Longwood senior guard Quincy Taylor following by a timeout from Longwood.
“We deemed it as a heavyweight title fight that would go fifteen rounds,” said Gee about the match up having anticipated the run in the press conference following the game.
Johnson and Taylor led the way scoring a combined 25 points in the second half as CSU matched runs with the Lancers after halftime; the second half saw CSU out-score Longwood by one, 40-39.
The Buccaneers trailed the majority of the second half after the early run, holding the lead for three minutes of play.
Following CSU’s surge, Longwood went on a 15-4 run that carried Longwood to the buzzer with an eight point lead after three free throws by sophomore guard Darrion Allen and a dunk by Johnson.
Johnson was the lead scorer and earned his second double-double of the tournament, finishing with 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
Junior guard Leron Fisher and Taylor joined Johnson in double-digit scoring; Fisher with 12 points and five boards, Taylor with 15 points with 5 assists.
Harper’s team-leading 17 points alongside senior forward Cedrick Bowen’s 14 points and eight rebounds were not enough to overcome Longwood.
“We're a team on a mission to prove that we belong,” said Gee in the press conference following the game.
The victory marked the second time that a No. 1 seed has lost in the tournament (CSU in 2013 against Liberty).
The Lancers will face Winthrop University (18-12), who won their game against Radford University (21-11), 67-66; Longwood is winless against Winthrop, losing by 24 in their most recent matchup at home in Farmville, Virginia.
According to Assistant VP for Athletics Communications Chris Cook, junior center Lotanna Nwogbo’s status remains unchanged and he will not play.
The game will be played on Saturday, Mar. 7 at 12 p.m. in the HTC Center in Conway, South Carolina.
