BOX SCORE

RADFORD, Va. – Kenny Thomas (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) scored a career-high 35 points, tying a Big South Tournament record, to lead top-seeded Radford past fourth-seeded UNC Asheville, 94-86, on Thursday night in the semifinals at the Dedmon Center.

With the victory, the Highlanders advance to their sixth Big South championship game, first since 2001, and will play second-seeded VMI on Saturday in a 4 p.m. contest televised on ESPN2. Saturday's champion will earn the league's automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

Thomas, one of three Radford players in double figures, knocked down 10-of-18 from the floor, including five from downtown and missed just one of his 11 attempts from the charity stripe en route to his second career 30-point performance.

Joey Lynch-Flohr (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) added 14 points and Chris McEachin (Norfolk, Va./Norview) came off the bench to score 10. Art Parakhouski (Minsk, Belarus), the 2008-09 Big South Player of the Year, just missed his 16th double-double of the season with nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while turning away five of Radford's 12 blocks, which also tied a school record.

Thomas' effort included 24 points in the second half and gave Radford (20-11) its largest lead of the game at 15 (59-44) on a three-pointer from the right wing with 13:04 remaining.

After the Bulldogs cut the deficit to 78-76 at 5:16 on Reid Augst's three, Thomas came back down the floor and scored underneath off a pass from Amir Johnson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Quaker Valley) 15 seconds later to up the advantage to 80-76, and spark an 8-2 run for the Highlanders.

Johnson led all players with eight assists.

Both teams shot better than 50 percent in the second half, and Radford finished at 50.8 percent (31-of-61) overall, including a 7-of-14 showing from three-point range.

UNC Asheville (15-16) torched the nets from downtown connecting on 11-of-15 (73.3 percent) in the second half and 13-of-18 for the game.

Radford finished with a 42-35 advantage on the glass.

With the game tied 20-20, Radford grabbed the lead for good with a 12-2 streak, started by back-to-back jams from senior Eric Hall (Greensboro, N.C./Ben L Smith), who added four blocks in 19 minutes of action.

Sean Smith paced four Bulldogs in double figures with 21 points, including four buckets from long range and 7-of-8 from the line. Matt Dickey contributed 14, while John Williams and Augst finished with 13 and 12, respectively.

Radford's scoring total also set a new Big South semifinal record. 

Quotes From Radford Head Coach Brad Greenberg
Opening Statement: “It was quite an entertaining game. Hats off to UNC Asheville for the shooting they displayed in the second half. It was remarkable. They were just unconscious. We had a lead that looked safe and it wasn't.”

“Kenny was out of this world. He took it upon himself when we didn't have Art or Joey. He made play after play. He is an exceptional young man.”

Closing Remarks: “I give UNC Asheville credit, they played well. Coach Biedenbach is a great coach. He moves his team around like guys on a chess board. But we just don't foul that much. Tonight we just had trouble keeping guys on the court. We just have to be more disciplined.”

“Our league has got great coaches. Every night out someone is throwing something different at you and it makes you have to adjust.”

Quotes From UNC Asheville Head Coach Biedenbach
Opening Statement: “It was really a great basketball game from the fan's standpoint. We did everything we could. Radford deserved everything they have gotten this year. Brad Greenberg deserved the coach of the year award. They are a good team and he did a lot with them. We needed to get a couple of good breaks, but I am really proud of our team. We just needed a little size on the front line to neutralize a lot of things. We did well for the most part, but it just wasn't good enough.”

“Kenny Thomas was fantastic. He had one of the best games I have seen from a young man. He took a couple of shots when the game was on the line and made them, and that's a sign of a good player. I wish him the best the rest of the way.”

“I am really proud of our guys. They were fun to coach. This team was good enough halfway through the season, but we just needed a lot more breaks.”