RADFORD'S SEASON COMES TO AN END IN OVERTIME VS. WINTHROP

BOX SCORE CONWAY, S.C. - Radford's stay in the 2013 Big South Tournament ended Tuesday in the opening game of the championship with a 60-58 loss to Winthrop in overtime.

Rashun Davis tied a career high with 18 points, including 16 in the second half to help erase a 29-23 halftime deficit for the Highlanders. Javonte Green added 13 points, and both Davis and Green grabbed a team-high five rebounds.

It was Winthrop's Joab Jerome, however, who hit a short jumper in the lane with 1.5 seconds remaining in overtime that proved the difference for the Eagles. RU's R.J. Price had a contested look at a desperation three that would have won the game, but it missed, and the Highlanders fell.

Davis began the second half scoring eight straight points to give the Highlanders a 31-29 lead with 16:42 to play. Neither team led by more than four points in regulation afterwards.

With Winthrop holding a 52-48 advantage with two minutes to play in regulation, Davis scored the final four points to send the game into overtime. His jumper with :38 to play and tie the game held up as the Highlanders' defense was up to the challenge. Jerome misfired on a three as time expired.

"That was a great college basketball game," RU head coach Mike Jones said after the contest. "Our defense was rock solid, especially down the stretch. Winthrop just made a couple more plays than we did."

It looked as though the Highlanders were going to escape and advance in the extra session. Radford scored the first five points in overtime, all from the free throw line, to grab a 57-52 lead. The Eagles answered with a pair of field goals by Gideon Gamble and Reggie King to cut the lead to one. The teams traded baskets the rest of the way setting the scene for Jerome's game-winner.

Winthrop dominated the glass with a 38-26 overall advantage, including 15 offensive rebounds that led to a 19-4 edge over the Highlanders in second chance points.

"We needed to complete defensive stops with rebounds," Jones said. ""Both teams were aggressive and played with a tremendous amount of intensity."

Radford shot 37.0 percent from the floor despite making just two field goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation and overtime combined. The majority of the Highlanders' points came from the free throw line, where RU was 21-27, including Davis' 8-8.

RU finishes the season 13-19 overall, seven wins more than last season as the Jones era rebuilding project took a huge step forward in 2012-13.

"We made a lot of progress as a team and as a program this year. We just have to get out there and learn to win, and we will have to do that in the heat of battle."

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