Martin sparks late rally, Charlotte edges Longwood 42-39
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Malik Martin scored 17 points, including 3-pointers on consecutive Charlotte possessions, sparking a late-game breakaway run as the 49ers upended Longwood 42-39 Monday night.
The win ended Longwood's 4-0 start, its best start since it moved to Division I. Charlotte (2-2) is no stranger to comebacks, having rallied from 24 down to upset Oklahoma State by two points earlier this season.
Longwood (4-1) built an 11-point lead, 26-15 early in the second half, but Charlotte quickly made it a two-point game and surged ahead 31-30 after Martin's second trey. That kicked off a 13-3 run capped by a Dravon Mangum layup with five minutes to play. The freshman scored nine points and had 10 rebounds.
Isaiah Walton was held to 12 points, his first game below 20 this season, with 10 rebounds but 11 turnovers. Lorenzo Phillips scored 10 for the Lancers.
The game was a rematch of sorts from UMBC's shocking upset of top-seeded Virginia in the opening round of last season's NCAA Tournament. Longwood's Griff Aldrich was an assistant for the 16th-seeded Retrievers, Charlotte's Ron Sanchez with the Cavaliers.
