Senior forward Spencer Franklin walked off Jerome Kersey Court for the final time to a standing ovation, but will have at least one more opportunity to play in a Lancer uniform on Monday night at DePaul University.
For the first time in the program’s Division I history, Longwood men’s basketball not only was given a taste, but hosted an National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) postseason basketball game.
In one of the most anticipated Longwood games in recent memory, a jam-packed Willett Hall, with an attendance of approximately 1,372, witnessed the Lancers upset Conference USA opponent Southern Mississippi 90-68 to advance to quarterfinals of the Roman College Basketball Invitational (CBI) tournament. The win was the program’s first-ever Division I postseason tournament win.
“It’s an unreal feeling,” graduate student forward Damarion Geter said. “We had a lot of support tonight, the game was hyped up, the crowd showed up, and we heard them the entire game and just fed off their energy. We played well together and it felt good to get it done.”
Geter scored 11 points on 4-6 shooting, and collected six rebounds, only two rebounds behind junior guard Jaylon Wilson, who was stellar from the field with a team-leading 23 points on 9-15 shooting. Wilson also connected with five of the program-record 18 three-pointers in their upset effort.
Junior guard Jaylon Wilson led the team with 23 points on 9-15 shooting.
Junior guard Shabooty Phillips contributed 19 points and a team-high seven assists, and junior forward JaShaun Smith kept his career season going with 12 points, all coming from beyond the arc.
The statement win was the Lancers 16th win of the season, bringing their overall record to 16-17 on the season. Longwood will travel to Chicago to face Big East opponent DePaul University in the Roman CBI quarterfinals on Monday.
“I’m just really thrilled for the guys. They’ve worked so hard and this is such a signature win,” first year head coach Griff Aldrich said. “It’s just really special here at the end of the season and be in the postseason, and then win over a really good team, especially in resounding fashion.”
Junior guard Shabooty Phillips has been a staple of Longwood's offense this year, averaging 13.8 points-per-game, including a 19-point performance Wednesday night.
If DePaul had lost to Central Michigan University, according to Aldrich, the Lancers would have been hosting the quarterfinal on Monday night.
Southern Mississippi came into Willett Hall with their last postseason appearance being in the NCAA tournament in 2012. This year, their season ended in the Conference USA semifinals, falling to Western Kentucky on March 15.
In his final year of his illustrious and trying six-year career, an elated Geter said the win was “for sure” the best moment in a Lancer uniform.
“A Division I Longwood team hasn’t played this long, we’re the first ones to do it, and we came out on top,” he said. “There isn’t any better feeling.”
