RADFORD EFFORT FALLS JUST SHORT AT WAKE FOREST

BOX SCORE Winston-Salem, N.C. - Radford gave ACC foe Wake Forest all it could handle on the road Friday in the season opener for both teams. The Demon Deacons prevailed, however, 79-67 in front of 7,042 fans at Joel Coliseum.

R.J. Price scored a team-high 16 points, and Radford had four players in double figures as the Highlanders dropped their first season opening game since losing to Michigan to begin the 2008-09 campaign.

Price knocked down an open three-point basket on RU's first possession to give the Highlanders an early lead. The game was back and forth throughout the night with Wake's biggest lead coming at the end of the game as RU was forced to foul, and the Deacons hit their freethrows down the stretch.

"I am proud of my team's effort tonight," head coach Mike Jones said. "We need to play a little smarter, but we really showed a lot of energy when things were going well."

Freshman Kion Brown, wearing a Radford jersey for the first time tonight, had 14 points and six rebounds coming off the bench. The Highlanders were able to feed him in the post all evening.

"We were able to get the ball in deep and have success," Jones said of his freshman's play. Javonte Green struggled with foul trouble for most of the second half, but tallied 12 points and nine rebounds in just 17 minutes.

A 9-0 run by Radford midway through the second half cut a 10-point Wake lead to a single point, but the Highlanders were never able to tie or take the lead in the final 20 minutes. Blake Smith scored six of his 12 points during that span.

The Highlanders showed well in "effort" statistics. RU grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and forced 12 steals.

"We pride ourselves in our defensive pressure," Jones said. "This is a tough offense to guard, and I thought we did a pretty good job."

Wake Forest had six players in double figures, led by C.J. Harris' 19 points.

Radford opens its home slate Monday, Nov. 12 at the Dedmon Center against Cincinnati Christian in the opening play of the Eastern Kentucky Comfort Suites Inviational. The remaining three games of the invite will be played Nov. 16-18 in Richmond, Ky.

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