Longwood defeats NC Central 72-74

Longwood Edges NC Central in Thrilling Upset

In a back-and-forth contest, visiting Longwood edged host NC Central 74-72 on Saturday night at McDougald-McLendon Arena.

The game was a classic thriller, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to pull away for more than an eight-point lead. The largest margin of the night came when NC Central led by nine points in the second half, only for Longwood to mount a furious comeback.

At halftime, both teams were tied at 36-36, setting the stage for what promised to be a wild finish. In the end, it was Longwood's clutch shooting and determination that proved too much for NC Central to overcome.

The difference in field goal percentage between the two teams was negligible, with both shooting 45% from the floor. However, Longwood's edge on the free throw line (71% vs 58.8%) ultimately proved crucial. Jacoi Hutchinson led all scorers for Longwood with 17 points and also chipped in four assists.

For NC Central, Gage Lattimore paced the team with 22 points but struggled from beyond the arc, going just 1-8 from three-point range. Khouri Carvey had a strong all-around performance, grabbing 11 rebounds while adding 17 points and two assists.

Despite falling short, this win for Longwood is significant. The Lancers' victory over an unranked opponent serves as a confidence boost heading into the team's next matchup.