BOX SCORE

RADFORD, Va. – Jareal Smith (Savannah, Ga. / Johnson) scored a season-high 25 points to lead Radford to a 67-66 victory over Winthrop in Big South men's basketball action Tuesday evening at the Dedmon Center.

One of three Highlanders in double figures, Jareal Smith finished 8-of-17 from the floor and matched fellow freshman Martins Abele (Saldus, Latvia) with a game-high eight rebounds. Blake Smith (Charlotte, N.C. / United Faith Christian Academy) and Evan Faulkner (Sandy Hook, Ky. / Elliott County) added 13 and 11, respectively.

With 7.6 seconds left and Radford up 67-65, the Eagles' Reggie Middleton was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer from straight away, but the junior only converted his first of three tries at the line. Charles Corbin tracked down the offensive rebound on the second game-tying try, but his game-winning attempt from 17 feet missed long and right.

POST-GAME: Head Coach Brad Greenberg

After Winthrop (9-12, 5-6 Big South) erased an 11-point deficit with a 20-7 streak to take a 53-51 lead, the Highlanders responded with three consecutive triples, including two from Faulkner to go back in front for good.

Radford (5-17, 2-10 Big South) finished 8-of-12 from behind the 3-point arc for a season-best 66.7 percent clip.

As a team, Winthrop struggled at the charity stripe, shooting just 48 percent (12-for-25).

Jareal Smith scored nine of his 14 first-half points during a 13-3 run as the Highlanders led by as many as 10 before going to the break with a 36-28 advantage.  In addition to his impressive first half, Blake Smith added 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers and four steals prior to intermission.

Middleton paced the Eagles with 14 points, while Robbie Deher had 12 and Charles Corbin finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.

The Highlanders finished with a 34-31 edge on the glass.

Beginning with Saturday's 7 p.m. contest at High Point, Radford will play six of its last seven regular season contests on the road.