Radford University Athletics

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Radford coaches Kyle Getter and Mike Jones giving instruction to Kion Brown and Blake Smith

Men's Basketball 11/11/2012 8:37:00 PM

MEN'S HOOPS AT THE DEDMON CENTER ON MONDAY NIGHT

RADFORD, Va. - The Radford men's basketball home slate tips off Monday night with an opening round matchup with Cincinnati Christian in the Eastern Kentucky / Comfort Suites Invitational. The first of four games RU will play in the tournament, the Highlanders will host the Eagles at 7:00 p.m. and then travel to Richmond, Ky. for three games this weekend.

RU opened its season last Friday with a 12-point loss at Wake Forest, but battled the Demon Deacons throughout the length of the contest. The Highlanders trailed by just three points at the final media timeout, but were forced to foul down the stretch and Wake knocked down some crucial free throws to ice the game.

Sophomore guard R.J. Price led the RU effort at Wake with 16 points, leading four Highlanders that scored in double figures. Freshman Kion Brown, playing in his collegiate debut, added 14 points off the bench, and Blake Smith and Javonte Green each added 12 points. Green grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

The Highlanders dominated the offensive glass with 18 rebounds that led to a 14-2 advantage over the Demon Deacons in second-chance points. The defense captured 12 steals and forced 18 turnovers that led to 22 points off those Wake miscues. Smith and freshman Juwan Wells each had three steals.

Radford is looking to win its 10th straight home opener. The Highlanders last lost its first home game of the season in the 2002-03 season, an overtime loss to Howard, 63-58. Last year, in Mike Jones' first season as head coach, the Highlanders defeated Delaware, 58-54.

Scouting the Eagles
Cincinnati Christian enters tonight's game with an 0-3 record after an 89-56 loss on Friday at Eastern Kentucky. The Eagles also dropped earlier contests to NAIA foes, Union (Ky.) and Lindsey Wilson. This game against Radford with be the fourth of seven straight games to begin the season on the road for the Eagles. CCU competes in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) of the NAIA Div. II.

Kenny Gaynor leads the Eagles averaging 17.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. DJ McCommons was the leading scorer vs. EKU with 15 points. Mike Hill finished with 11. Gaynor, who had tallied 42 points in the first two contests, put up just nine points vs. EKU. The Eagles committed 24 turnovers and were out rebounded 33-26 by the Colonels.

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