GAME THREAD: MBB vs. Longwood

[PonyPride]

The Mustangs host the Longwood Lancers at 1 p.m. Sunday.

I never heard of it either, so I looked it up. "From the school's website: Founded in 1839, Longwood is a proud, historic Virginia public university. We are a place rich with tradition, where a beautiful campus and committed faculty inspire students to become citizen leaders and establish valuable and meaningful connections."

So there's that.

The Lancers come in to Sunday's game with an 11-3 record, winning four of their last five games. At first glance, it would appear the Mustangs could have an advantage in the front court, as Longwood is not the biggest team: the two tallest players are redshirt sophomore forward Precious Idiaru and senior forward Trey Hicks, each of whom is listed at 6-9; redshirt junior forward Elijah Tucker is listed at 6-8.

No player on the Longwood roster is listed as a center.

Longwood is embracing the era of the transfer portal: 10 of 16 players on the roster began their college careers at other universities.

[PonyPride]

Longwood has outscored its opponents by an average of 78.9-66.6 points per game.

The Lancers have out-rebounded their opponents by 5.6 boards per game: 36.6-31.0.

Field goals: 371-809 (.459) — 26.5 per game

3-point field goals: 90-300 (.300) — 6.4 per game

Free throws: 273-367 (.744) — 19.5 per game

[PonyPride]

Two players are averaging double digits in scoring

6-6 graduate forward Michael Christmas: 11.9 PPG
6-1 sophomore guard Colby Garland: 10.9 PPG

Trey Hicks is the team's most accurate shooter from the floor (.714), but that is in a limited sample size, hitting 10 of 14 field goals in nine appearances (zero starts).

Of the players in the regular rotation, the top shooters are 6-6 senior forward Johan Nziemi, who is shooting .607 (37/61) from the floor, just edging out Elijah Tucker, who is shooting .606 (43/71).

The top three-point shooter is 6-3 redshirt junior guard Angelo Brizzi, who is shooting .474, but again, that's in a limited sample size (9/19). Garland is shooting .344 (11/32) from long range, followed by Christmas at .329 (25/76) and 6-3 redshirt junior guard K.J. McClurg at .322 (19/59).

As a team, the Lancers are shooting .744 from the free throw line, led by Colby's .826 (38/46).

[mrydel]

They beat the Mary Baldwin Fighting Squirrels by 57 points

[Charleston Pony]

Longwood has made the NCAA Tournament 2 of the last 3 seasons after winning the Big South Tournament Championship so they should not be taken lightly

[Charleston Pony]

SMU comes into this game with 5 guys averaging double figures and Matt Cross averaging 9.9 and needing just 11 points today to join the list of double figure scorers. Hoping for another fast pace high scoring game that makes this year's team so much fun to watch

[PonyPride]

Longwood starters
G 1 Kyrell Luc
G 3 Colby Garland
G 14 Angelo Brizzi
F 25 Michael Christmas
F 34 Elijah Tucker

SMU starters
G 0 B.J. Edwards
G 2 Boopie Miller
F 21 Yohan Traore
F 33 Matt Cross
C 24 Samet Yiğitoğlu

[PonyPride]

Matt Cross plows through Elijah Tucker, who gets called for a blocking foul and is a little slow getting up.
Cross hits 1 of 2 FTs
SMU trails, 2-1

[PonyPride]

Traore dribbles behind his back, then spins back for a fall-away jumper, giving SMU 7-6 lead

[PonyPride]

SMU has made 3 of 4 FGs
Longwood: 3 of 5

Longwood leads, 10-9
15:46 to go in first half

[PonyPride]

Traore: 6 points
2/2 FGs
2/2 FTs

All other Mustangs: 3 points

[PonyPride]

Boopie cans a long 3 to put SMU ahead, 14-12

[Charleston Pony]

Traore is on fire today with 11 points on 4-5 shooting and 5 boards. Looks like old times with maybe the 1500 in attendance?

[PonyPride]

Yiğitoğlu picks up his first foul when called for going over the back for an offensive rebound. Looked pretty clean, considering the guy he reached over is about a foot shorter.

Worth watching, as he has picked up four fouls in each of the last three games.

[Charleston Pony]

Yiğitoğlu picks up his first foul when called for going over the back for an offensive rebound. Looked pretty clean, considering the guy he reached over is about a foot shorter.

Worth watching, as he has picked up four fouls in each of the last three games.

Looked like the smaller player pushed back into him. I remember getting called for fouls like that when I played against guys 6 inches taller than me