The Rotunda

Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Kyle Centers Senior Ryan Bogan in Tuesday's game against Gardner-Webb.

The Longwood men's basketball team started its season Friday night, Nov. 14, in Willett Hall with an 87-44 thrashing of the Cavaliers from UVA Wise. The home side was packed with excited students, families who watched the Lancers take an early 14-4 lead. Senior Ryan Bogan scored eight consecutive points with back-to-back threes and a jumper.

Throughout the night, the Longwood students led cheers of "defense" in support of the Lancers.

Coming off the bench early, freshman Martiz Washington scored a game-high 15 points. He was one of four Lancers who would finish with double digits in the scoring column.

With six minutes left in the first half, Longwood went on a 16-0 run, led by sophomore Durann Neil's six points. Longwood led the Cavaliers, who compete in the NAIA, 42-18 at the half.

Stepping in Unity performed at the beginning of halftime, followed by the Longwood cheerleaders who performed a routine. Both groups received a large applause at the end.

Red-shirt junior Dana Smith scored the first six points of the second half, followed by Washington who scored 10 points with two three-pointers, a steal and layup, and a jumper in a 1:24 span. Junior E.J Dawson brought the crowd to their feet when he stole the ball and returned it across court with a slam dunk.

To go with his game-high 15 points, Washington added six rebounds and two steals. Neil contributed 14 points, five rebounds and two steals, and Bogan chipped in with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Smith had a career-high five blocks, while adding 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in front of a crowd of 1,314.

Every player on the Lancers' active roster scored Friday night, leaving the home crowd happy with a huge win.

The Lancers second game of the season on Sunday night, Nov. 16, was hard fought, but Longwood came up short by a margin of 81-74 to Norfolk State of the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC). The Lancers were led by Bogan with 20 points in a game that saw 14 ties and 13 lead changes. The Spartans of Norfolk State were led by senior Corey Lyons, who scored 19 of his game-high 25 points in the second half.

On Tuesday night, Nov. 18, the Lancers ended their three-game home stand with a victory, an 85-84 nail biter over visiting Gardner-Webb. Bogan broke an 84-all tie with seconds left in the game, hitting the first of his free throws after a hard foul. Smith led the Lancers with 18 points and junior Kevin Swecker chipped in 14. Bogan, Washington and junior E.J. Dawson all contributed 11.

The Lancers' next five games will all be on the road, starting with a Thursday matchup in Morgantown, W.Va., against the Mountaineers. The road trip will also include a West Coast swing for two games in Las Vegas before the Lancers return home on Dec. 3 for 7 p.m. contest against in-state opponent James Madison University.
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