Box Score CONWAY, S.C. – Charleston Southern staged a 12-0 run out of halftime to take a three-point lead, but it was short-lived as Longwood answered back with 13 straight points en route to a 68-60 win over the Bucs in the quarterfinal round of the VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Basketball Championships on Friday at The HTC Center.
CSU (19-11, 13-5 Big South) fell behind 14-2 and never led in the first half against a ninth-seeded Longwood (11-22, 5-13 Big South) team that has now won three straight games for the first time all season. The Bucs could never generate a consistent rhythm offensively and shot just 38 percent overall and 8-of-26 from three-point range. The Lancers came up with deflections throughout the afternoon, and forced 16 turnovers, including 11 in the first half.
Shaq Johnson led the way for Longwood and notched his second straight double-double with 22 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Quincy Taylor added 15 points and five assists to help the Lancers into Saturday's semifinals.
Arlon Harper paced CSU with 17 points, six rebounds and five steals in moving past Kelvin Martin for 2nd place in school history and 10th in Big South annals in steals. Fellow seniors Cedrick Bowen and Saah Nimley added 14 and 13 points, respectively. Nimley passed Ed O'Neil as CSU's all-time assists leader, and now has 509 in his career.
Bowen scored the final five points of CSU's 12-0 spurt to start the second half, recording a three-point play and a two-handed dunk to give the Bucs a 32-29 lead with 15:37 left. Longwood held CSU scoreless for the ensuing 5:21, though, ripping off 13 consecutive points to grab a 42-32 advantage. CSU came as close as four on back-to-back Will Saunders threes with 8:03 left, but Longwood stretched its lead back out to as much as 11 and held on for the win.
CSU head coach Barclay Radebaugh remarked on a tough loss that saw CSU in front for just 2:16 of game time. Radebaugh, the Big South Conference Coach of the Year, directed the Bucs to the winningest regular season in school history.
"We just couldn't get it going," Radebaugh said. "Our kids tried really hard. They played really hard. Their hearts were in it, their heads were in it, we were prepared but we just couldn't get it going. We had a chance to cut it to three there at half and it went the opposite direction. Instead of cutting the momentum and getting it to three at half, we're dealing with a nine-point deficit."
CSU trailed 29-20 at intermission before surging ahead with a 12-0 run over the opening 4:23 of the second stanza. Aaron Wheeler and Harper started the stretch with a tip-in and a three before Bowen converted an old-fashioned three-point play off an offensive rebound to give the Bucs the edge. Bowen added a slam off one of Nimley's five assists to cap the run. Darrion Allen and Johnson countered with inside scores for Longwood, however, and the Lancers held onto the lead the rest of the way.
Leron Fisher's three ended the 13-0 Longwood run and accounted for a 42-32 lead with 10:56 remaining. Saunders gave CSU a chance with two threes in a 35-second span to whittle the deficit from ten to four at the 8:03 mark. Nimley was called for a technical foul after narrowly missing out on a steal on Longwood's next possession, and Taylor hit two free throws to help the Lancers re-assume control.
Fisher scored a layup and made two free throws to extend Longwood' s cushion to 11 points with 2:36 remaining. Harper's third trey of the afternoon brought CSU within 63-57 with 59.5 seconds left, but Longwood scored the next five markers, highlighted by Johnson's fast break dunk, to seal the victory.
Radebaugh commented on a senior class that has left an imprint on the Charleston Southern basketball program.
"They've won 70 games in four years," Radebaugh said. "They're going to a national postseason tournament for the second time in their four-year careers. They should be applauded. They've represented Charleston Southern and the Big South the way you want student-athletes representing a University and a conference."
Longwood harassed CSU into a 1-of-7 start from the field and forced five turnovers, to build a 14-2 lead. Four different players scored in that opening juncture, with Johnson's mid-range jumper capping the opening flurry.
CSU rallied back with nine straight points thanks to a Bowen layup, a Saunders three, a Nimley jumper and a Wheeler drive. Longwood maintained its advantage throughout a physical and uneven first half, and took a 29-20 lead into the locker room when Allen connected on three free throws after being fouled on a three. Those free throws came after Harper was called for a charge on what it could have been a potential three-point play for CSU.
"Our career isn't over yet," Harper said. "We have a chance to go and do something that we haven't in school history, and that's win a postseason game in the NIT. We've still got more basketball to play and we'll be ready to play in that game when it comes."
As the Big South's regular season champion, CSU is assured of a spot in the NIT for the second time in three years. The NIT field will be announced on Sunday, March 15.
