BOX SCORE

RADFORD, Va. – John Brown recorded his fourth straight double-double (11 points, 14 rebounds) and 10th of the season to lead Liberty to a 61-53 victory over Radford in Big South men's basketball action Saturday evening at the Dedmon Center.

Brown, who entered as the league's top-rebounder, was one of three Flames in double figures as David Minaya and Antwan Burrus added 11 each.

Blake Smith (Charlotte, N.C./United Faith Christian Academy) led the Highlanders with 13 points to go along with five rebounds, four steals and three assists in 24 minutes off the bench.

POST-GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Liberty at Radford

“That was Blake's best game of the season,” said Radford head coach Brad Greenberg. “He played the way we thought he was capable of playing and hope this is a start of where we think he can be.”

Gorkem Sonmez (Istanbul, Turkey) also hit the 10-point plateau with 12, while Johnathan Edwards (Queens, N.Y./Tyler Junior College) and Jareal Smith (Savannah, Ga./Johnson) contributed 11 each for the Highlanders.

Liberty (13-7, 7-1 Big South), which held the Highlanders to just 7-of-25 (25.9 percent) shooting in the first half, raced out to a 14-2 advantage before heading to the break up, 28-21.

After Radford scored seven unanswered capped off by a Blake Smith bucket to cut the deficit to 33-30 at the 12:27 mark, the Flames responded with a 10-2 spurt to stretch the margin back to double figures.

Despite the loss, Radford (4-13, 1-6 Big South) recorded 11 steals and finished with a season-low eight turnovers.

“We took a step forward tonight,” said Greenberg. “We played with great effort, took good care of the ball and forced turnovers. We just didn't make enough shots to win the game.”

Liberty finished the 57th all-time meeting shooting 41.5 percent, while holding the Highlanders to just 32.1 percent.

Both teams hit only five 3-pointers and shot just 50 percent from the charity stripe.

“We did a good job guarding their 3-point shooters,” Greenberg added.

Liberty controlled the glass, 51-32.

The Highlanders return to the court Thursday evening with a 7 p.m. tip at Winthrop.