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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
YaYa Anderson
RUHighlanderPhotos.com
62
Winner UNC Asheville AVL 5-7, 1-0 BSC
60
Radford RAD 9-5, 0-1 BSC
Winner
UNC Asheville AVL
5-7, 1-0 BSC
62
Final
60
Radford RAD
9-5, 0-1 BSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UNC Asheville AVL 31 31 62
Radford RAD 32 28 60

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

LAST-SECOND TIP-IN PUSHES ASHEVILLE PAST RADFORD

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RADFORD, Va. - YaYa Anderson's game-winning try from half court at the buzzer banked off the rim and out Wednesday at the Dedmon Center, and UNC Asheville escaped the Highlanders' home court with a 62-60 victory in the Big South opener for both squads. Jaleel Roberts gave the Bulldogs the lead with a tipped in offensive rebound with 2.4 seconds to play setting up Anderson's near heroics.

Radford (9-5, 0-1) lost for the first time at home this season, but nearly overcame its largest deficit of the season. The Highlanders went cold from the field and did not score for a six-minute span in the second half, and Asheville (5-7, 1-0) took advantage. The Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run to turn a tied game with 16:04 to play into a 48-40 lead before Javonte Green converted a steal into a layup with 10:07 remaining to end the drought.

Led by five straight points by Cameron Jones, the Highlanders scrapped their way back into the game. Radford briefly took the lead, 57-56, with 1:11 to play on a layup by Brandon Holcomb, but UNCA's Sam Hughes found an opening on the baseline to retake the lead for the Bulldogs, 58-57, with just under a minute remaining. A defensive tie-up gave the ball back to Asheville, and David Robertson converted two free throws to push the lead to 60-57.

Radford tied the game on a Holcomb three-point play with 11 seconds left. Anderson was guarded on the perimeter and drove baseline to find Holcomb inside. The RU center finished the play and was fouled. His free throw set up the final scramble under the Asheville basket. Robertson's layup rimmed off, but Roberts was there for the tap, which turned out to be the game-winner.

Anderson broke free on a set play at mid-court and got a good look at the basket, but his game-winner was too strong off the backboard, and Radford fell to 6-1 at home this season.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Highlanders, and the win ended a three-game skid for the Bulldogs.

The defeat overshadowed a strong defensive effort by Radford on the Big South's leading scorer and sixth-highest in the NCAA, Andrew Rowsey, who entered the game averaging 22.1 points per game. The Highlanders held Rowsey to five points on 2-8 shooting. Robertson's 17 led the Bulldogs, and Roberts finished with 12.

Radford was led by R.J. Price, who scored 16, and Green's 10 points. Holcomb and Jones both finished with seven points and six rebounds.

The stats sheet reflected how evenly the game was played. RU shot 40.0 percent from the field, while UNCA shot 39.7. The Highlanders held a 38-34 edge on the glass, but committed 11 turnovers to eight for the visitors. Both teams got 30 points in the paint, but the Asheville bench held a 25-21 advantage with the final two points coming from a non-starter in Roberts.

"It's a challenge each and every night in this league, and we had an opportunity to get it started off right, but we didn't come with the right desire," Radford head coach Mike Jones said. "This game was a battle just like this league is going to be throughout the season."

Radford travels to Farmville, Va. on Saturday to face in-state rival Longwood at 5:00 p.m. The Lancers dropped their conference opener as well, in overtime at Winthrop.
 
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