20 WINS: RADFORD COMEBACK COMPLETES SEASON SWEEP OF LIBERTY

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LYNCHBURG, Va. - Trailing by 12 with 7:25 to play, Radford (20-11, 10-6) caught fire and completed a 26-10 run Saturday to close out the game and win its 20th game of the season, 87-83 at Liberty. The 20 wins is the first time in two decades a Highlander team has reached the plateau during the regular season. Javonte Green's double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds led the way. Ya Ya Anderson added 19 and Rashun Davis 18 in the win.

Anderson sparked the rally with a three to cut the lead to nine, and after trading baskets, another deep strike from the sophomore cut the lead to six with 5:17 remaining. The defense picked up for the Highlanders with three straight stops to give added life to the comeback.

Davis added a jumper and the third trey in the stretch by Anderson cut the lead to one, 75-74. R.J. Price, who finished with 10 points connected from behind the arc to give RU a lead it would never relinquish, 77-75.

Then, with Radford holding that 77-75 with 1:51 left, Green turned in what head coach Mike Jones called on of the best defensive plays of the year drawing a charge to give RU another offensive possession.

"We started diggin in and getting some stops," Jones said. "Everyone will look at the baskets we hit on the offensive end, but it was our defense that won this game."

Davis closed out the game at the free throw line hitting four straight to keep the Flames at arm's length and secure the victory.

The game was back-and-forth throughout the first half before Liberty closed the final 7:39 with a 16-10 run to carry a 40-34 advantage into the locker room. The Flames shot a blistering 57 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes to 44 percent for Radford.

Radford forced 16 turnovers and committed just seven, which proved the difference in the game. Both teams hit eight treys and both teams made 17 free throws. RU, however, outscored the Flames 19-4 off turnovers.

Antwan Burrus led the Flames with 19 points and eight rebounds, but fouled out late in the second half. Tomasz Gielo added 16 to go with 14 from John Caleb Sanders and 13 from Davon Marshall.

It was the second time this season the Highlanders overcame a double-digit Liberty lead to come back and win. In the conference opener in January, RU trailed by as many as 13 and rallied.

An emotional Jones spoke of his team's accomplishments in the regular season.

"These guys are special. They show a lot of grit, determination, and resolve," Jones said. "We still have a lot of work to do. There will be a lot of good teams next week."

The Highlanders will open play as the No. 3 seed from the North Division in the Big South Tournament on Wednesday against Presbyterian, the No. 6 seed from the South. The second game of the first session, Radford is scheduled to play at 2:00 p.m. with the winner to face UNC Asheville in the quarterfinals on Friday.

All games in the league tournament are being played at the HTC Center in Conway, S.C.

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