A slow start sentenced the Longwood men’s basketball team to a fourth straight defeat against Gardner-Webb University, losing 81-71 on Saturday, Feb 20. The short-handed Lancers dropped to 8-21 on the season and sit at the bottom of the Big South Conference, while the Runnin’ Bulldogs improved to 15-14.
On senior night in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb took control of the game straight from the opening tipoff. The Runnin’ Bulldogs raced to a big lead early on, opening the game on a 12-0 scoring run. The Lancers did not score for the first 5:30 of the game, going scoreless on their first seven possessions.
"The story of the game was the start," said men's basketball head coach Jayson Gee on the official Longwood athletics website. "We weren't ready to go, and that's on me."
Gardner-Webb, led by Dylan Poston with 22 points, had eight different players on the scoresheet. The Runnin’ Bulldogs never trailed throughout the game, and went into halftime with a 23-point advantage.
Longwood improved on their poor first half after the break, outscoring the home side 46-33 in the second half. But the first half hole was too much to overcome for depleted Lancers, who had all five starters play 30 minutes or more.
The team, already hindered by injuries and coach's decisions, was further handicapped as starting sophomore guard Kanayo Obi-Rapu Jr. was a late scratch from the lineup due to illness. Redshirt-sophomore forward Khris Lane stepped into the starting five, but the bench was left short of options to give the starters a breather. Gee noted the impact of having players unavailable, but did not blame it for his team’s defeat.
“Anytime you reduce your depth, it's a factor, particularly when it's a starter and one of your top scorers,” said Gee on the official Longwood athletics website. “But I thought the story of this game was the poor start in the first half. We could just never make that up, and that's difficult to do on the road."
Despite the heavy workload, there were some solid performances from the visitors. Junior guard Darrion Allen recorded 16 points, as did senior forward Shaquille Johnson. Johnson also racked up nine rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks in a complete 40 minute effort.
Redshirt-senior center Lotanna Nwogbo continued his good form, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds. It was Nwogbo’s sixth straight double-double, and his Big South-leading twelfth overall this season.
The Lancers will hope to build on their improved second half performance when they host No. 10 Presbyterian on Thursday, Feb. 25. It will be Longwood's senior night at Willett Hall, as Nwogbo, Johnson, and guard Tra’Vaughn White will have one last chance to play in front of the Farmville faithful against the Blue Hose.
Senior forward Shaquille Johnson earned 16 points in the team's 81-71 road loss on Saturday, Feb. 20.
