Longwood tops Presbyterian 65-61 in Big South tourney opener

CONWAY, S.C. (AP) Shaquille Johnson had 25 points and a career-high 11 rebounds to help No. 9 seed Longwood slip past eighth-seeded Presbyterian 65-61 in the opening game of the Big South tournament on Wednesday.

Leron Fisher added 16 points and Quincy Taylor 13 for Longwood (10-22), which will face top-seeded Charleston Southern on Friday in the quarterfinals. Fisher and Taylor hit four 3-pointers, and had four assists, apiece.

Fisher and Taylor combined for three-consecutive 3s to ignite a 17-3 run which gave Longwood a 59-50 lead it wouldn't relinquish with 6:44 remaining.

Presbyterian (10-22), which led by as many as 11 in the first half, pulled within three on three occasions in the final 3:57, but made just 1 of 7 field goals down the stretch.

Markus Terry scored 21 and DeSean Murray added 18 and a career-high tying 13 rebounds for the Blue Hose, who made just 17 of 50 (34 percent) field goals.