FARMVILLE, Va. – Bethune-Cookman Men's Basketball completed its participation in the 2023 Brock Classic on Sunday afternoon, as the Wildcats fell to the host Longwood Lancers by a score of 69-48 inside the Joan Perry Brock Center. For the weekend, BCU fell to 0-3 in games against Lamar, Delaware State and Longwood, respectively.
 
Despite falling behind early-on, Bethune-Cookman (3-4) fought back with a three-pointer from Jakobi Heady stemming from a turnover, as well as a three-point play completed at the foul line by center Elijah Hulsewe. Zion Harmon's old-fashioned three-point play, drawing the foul from the Lancers D'Avian Houston, allowed BCU a 10-6 lead on the strength of a 10-2 run, respectfully.
 
Derrick Carter-Hollinger Jr. and Reggie Ward Jr. went back-to-back in scoring for the Maroon and Gold as BCU grabbed its largest lead of the opening half at 21-14 with 6:32 remaining.
 
Shooting 47.6 percent from the field and converting 12 first half Longwood turnovers into 16 points, Bethune-Cookman led by the thinnest of margins, 28-27 as the two teams went to the locker rooms at the break.
 
Longwood (6-1) began the second half with a flurry, scoring 14 of the first 17 points in the period.
 
A three-point play from top-scorer Johnathan Massie was followed by a Jesper Granlund pull-up jumper from the elbow, with Walyn Napper later driving the paint for two of his 13 points on the day, allowing the Lancers a 36-29 advantage. Napper, despite shooting 0-for-3 from three-point territory in the game, would convert a pair of free throws with 12:21 showing on the clock, before teammate Houston drained a three-pointer from in front of his own bench to extend the Longwood lead to 41-31.
 
Later in the half, Houston recorded two free throws with Granlund later registering a three-pointer to push the lead out to as many as 20 (65-45) with under two minutes remaining in the contest.
 
In the second half, it was Longwood turning the tables and forcing BCU into 11 turnovers, while scoring 10 points off those miscues – and limiting the Cats to zero (0) points off five Lancers turnovers for the period. Meanwhile, the bench played a big part, as Longwood outscored the Cats 20-11 in that department, as well as 11 second chance points as compared to BCU's three.
 
The Lancers were led on the day by Massie's 18-point outburst, including two (2) three-pointers and an 8 of 13 showing at the foul line. Houston would finish with 15 points, and Napper ended with 13. Michael Christmas controlled the boards with a game-high nine rebounds, while Napper provided his side with four assists and a season-high six steals.
 
Bethune-Cookman was sparked by the scoring of Hulsewe with a season-high matching 13 points and seven rebounds.
 
The Wildcats look to bounce back Friday, Dec. 1, when Incarnate Word visits Richard V. Moore Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
 
Follow Bethune-Cookman Men's Basketball on Twitter (@BCUHoops) and Instagram (@BCU_Hoops) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUathletics.com.