Game 23: Men vs. Longwood

The men's team hosts Longwood (3-11) this afternoon at the Smith Center. GW (3-5) hasn't played in 10 days since falling 71-59 at Binghamton on December 13. In that one, Rob Diggs had 20 points and 16 rebounds. He was joined in double figures in scoring by Wynton Witherspoon (16 points, seven rebounds) and Noel Wilmore (10 points). The Colonials now sit at #233 in the RPI, second-worst in the Atlantic 10 only to St. Bonaventure (#244).

The Lancers, an independent program in just its fifth season in Division I, return two starters from the squad that went 9-22. Longwood has three players who are averaging double figures in scoring: 6-6 junior forward Kirk Williams (16.5 points, 5.6 rebounds per game this season), 6-1 junior guard Ryan Bogan (10.9 points, 5.1 rebounds), and 6-5 junior guard/forward Dana Smith (10.4 points, 4.2 rebounds). Coach Mike Gillian is 28-105 in five seasons with the Lancers.

Longwood is coming off of a 76-51 loss at Morgan State on Friday. In that one, Bogan had 16 points and Williams had 13 points, but the Lancers were outscored by 23 points in the second half. Longwood's only win against a Division I team came on November 13 against Norfolk State. The Lancers' biggest defeat of the year was a 100-49 beatdown at #8 Indiana in the Chicago Invitational Challenge. Longwood has also lost to High Point, Liberty, and Navy.

This is the second-ever meeting between these programs; GW is 1-0. The only meeting came on November 17, 2006, which the Colonials won 74-60. In that one, Maureece Rice had 23 points, while Diggs notched 22 points and 10 rebounds. Longwood led 35-27 at the half.

With the uncertainty surrounding Rice's status, one never knows which Colonials team will show up. However, with our without Rice, GW has enough talent to overcome Longwood.

Steven Smith and Ross Romano have the call for WRGW with Sammy Gelfand handling production duties. You can listen here starting at 1.40 p.m. I will join Byron Kerr for the 3WT broadcast. You can listen here starting at 1.50 p.m.

Game notes: GW is 3-0 at the Smith Center...The Colonials have won 30 of their last 31 home games...GW will only play two games between December 14 and January 9...The Colonials are averaging 18 turnovers per game...Diggs needs 12 points for 500 for his career...Witherspoon needs six points for 300 for his career...GW is 0-2 on Sundays...The Colonials are 0-4 when allowing 70 points or more...Rice needs nine points to pass Haviland Harper for 37th place in scoring in program history...Rice needs 15 points to pass Joe Adamitis for 36th place...Longwood is 0-7 on the road.

Starting lineups and other notes to follow from the Smith Center once we get closer to tip-off. Please check back later.

Update, 12.06 p.m. - Word here at the Smith Center is that Rice has practiced in recent days. I was also told that Hobbs is still pretty unhappy with the senior, so his status for today is uncertain. We should find out for sure in a couple of hours.

Update, 1.39 p.m. - According to Hobbs, Rice has been suspended for one game for a violation of team rules. He will not dress for today's contest.

Update, 1.54 p.m. - Here are the starting lineups:

Longwood
G - Brandon Giles (5-10 senior from Gaithersburg, MD)
G - Ryan Bogan (6-1 junior from Oxford, PA)
F - Kirk Williams (6-6 junior from White Plains, NY)
F - Lamar Barrett (6-6 senior from Providence, RI)
F - Danny Wilson (6-8 senior from Pantego, NC)

GW
G - Johnny Lee (5-8 sophomore from Nashville, TN)
G - Xavier Alexander (6-6 freshman from Forest Park, OK)
F - Cheyenne Moore (6-5 junior from Baltimore, MD)
F - Wynton Witherspoon (6-7 junior from Duluth, GA)
F - Rob Diggs (6-8 junior from Brandywine, MD)

First career start for Lee. Rice is sitting on the GW bench in his warmups.

Update, 5.03 p.m. - Nice win for the men, who used a 20-0 run midway through the game for the win. Longwood cut it to one late, but Hollis, who had his second career double-double, scored the next seven GW points to put it away. Diggs, the team's leading scorer, only had two points on one field goal attempt.

We'll be back next Saturday when the men travel to Alabama. As always, thanks for stopping by. Happy holidays.