The Longwood Lancers secured a 82-75 win over the South Carolina Upstate Spartans, led by Alphonzo Billups III's impressive 25 points and 8 rebounds. This victory improves Longwood's record to 14-14, while South Carolina Upstate falls to 11-16. Billups' performance was a key factor in the game, as he shot efficiently and helped his team maintain a lead throughout the contest, with Longwood scoring 31 points in the first period and 38 points in the second period.
Alphonzo Billups III Scores 25 Points, Leads Longwood to 7-Point Victory
The game was closely contested, with Longwood taking a 31-28 lead into halftime. In the second half, South Carolina Upstate fought back, scoring 41 points, but Longwood's 38 points were enough to secure the 7-point win. The Longwood Lancers had a strong overall performance, with Redd Thompson Jr. adding 12 points and Elijah Tucker contributing 11 points and 10 rebounds. On the other side, Karmani Gregory led the South Carolina Upstate Spartans with 23 points, while Mason Bendinger scored 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. The Spartans' Carmelo Adkins also had a notable game, with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Longwood's ability to balance their scoring and rebounding efforts, with 38 points in the second period, ultimately led to their victory.
Alphonzo Billups III was the standout performer for the Longwood Lancers, scoring 25 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Redd Thompson Jr. and Elijah Tucker also had notable games, with 12 points and 11 points and 10 rebounds, respectively. For the South Carolina Upstate Spartans, Karmani Gregory led the way with 23 points, while Mason Bendinger scored 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Carmelo Adkins' all-around performance, with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, was also impressive. These top performers accounted for a significant portion of their teams' scoring, with Billups and Gregory combining for 48 points.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The Longwood Lancers outscored the South Carolina Upstate Spartans 38-41 in the second period, but their first-period lead of 31-28 was the difference. Longwood's Elijah Tucker grabbed 10 rebounds, while South Carolina Upstate's Mason Bendinger had 9 rebounds. The Spartans' Carmelo Adkins had 6 assists, highlighting his playmaking ability. The game saw a total of 157 points scored, with Longwood scoring 82 points and South Carolina Upstate scoring 75 points. The Lancers' 25 points from Alphonzo Billups III were a key factor in their victory.
The CHD Scout model predicted a Longwood win by 11.9 points, with a predicted score of 81-69. While the actual margin of victory was 7 points, the model correctly predicted the winner. The predicted score was close, with Longwood scoring 82 points and South Carolina Upstate scoring 75 points. The model's accuracy highlights its ability to forecast the outcome of games, with an average error of 4.9 points in this case.
This game was a Quadrant 4 matchup for both teams, with Longwood currently ranked 271 in the NET rankings and South Carolina Upstate ranked 286. The win improves Longwood's record to 14-14, while South Carolina Upstate falls to 11-16. The victory will have a minimal impact on Longwood's NET ranking, but it helps to bolster their resume. For South Carolina Upstate, the loss is a setback, but they want to bounce back in their next game. The Quadrant 4 designation means that this game will have limited implications for tournament selection, but it is still an important win for Longwood.
The Longwood Lancers want to build on this win in their next game, while the South Carolina Upstate Spartans will aim to bounce back from the loss. The exact dates and opponents for their next games are not yet available, but both teams will be focused on improving their records and positioning themselves for a strong finish to the season. With 14 wins, Longwood is nearing the 15-win mark, a significant milestone for the team.