The Longwood Lancers gritted their way to a 66-60 victory over the Binghamton Bearcats on their first road trip of the season, improving to 5-0. Despite early struggles on offense and foul trouble, the Lancers leaned on their signature defense and clutch performances to escape with the win.
After jumping to an early 2-0 lead, the Lancers quickly found themselves on their back foot as Binghamton rattled off a 9-0 run. Adding to their troubles, Elijah Tucker picked up three quick fouls, forcing him to the bench early. Still, Longwood fought back, with graduate forward Michael Christmas providing a much-needed spark to keep the Lancers within four points. Though their shots weren’t falling, Longwood stayed in the game with relentless defense and consistency at the foul line.
Binghamton went into halftime leading 30-28, shooting 60% from the field. However, Longwood’s defense limited them to just 25 attempts and frustrated the Bearcats into tough possessions. Meanwhile, the Lancers capitalized on their free-throw opportunities, going 12-for-14 from the line compared to Binghamton’s 1-for-4. Christmas led Longwood with eight points at the break, while Johan Nziemi grabbed four key rebounds to help keep the game close.
In the second half, Longwood showed why they remain undefeated. Playing their signature fast, physical style, the Lancers clawed back to take a 38-36 lead. Binghamton responded with a 9-0 run to go up 45-38, but a layup from Kyrell Luc stopped the bleeding, and the Lancers took control from there, eventually grabbing a 51-50 lead they would not relinquish. The Bearcats didn’t go quietly, repeatedly cutting the deficit to a single possession, but foul trouble caught up to them as Tymu Chenery fouled out, leaving them shorthanded late.
Down the stretch, the Lancers turned to their leaders. With just over a minute remaining and clinging to a one-point lead, Christmas grabbed a clutch offensive rebound to extend the possession. Seconds later, he nailed a fadeaway jumper with the shot clock expiring to push the lead to three. KJ McClurg followed with a dagger three-pointer off a Colby Garland assist to secure the victory.
McClurg led the Lancers with 20 points, bringing his two-game total to 45, while Christmas added 14 points and key plays in the clutch. Seven different Lancers contributed offensively, underscoring the team’s depth.
The Lancers now prepare for the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands, tipping off on November 22. With their defense, resilience, and growing confidence, they’ll look to continue their perfect start in their first game against the UAB Blazers.
Blue & White Spotlight 
Leave a comment