RADFORD OPENS SEASON SATURDAY AT GEORGETOWN

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SETTING THE STAGE

The Radford men's basketball season begins its 42nd season on Saturday as the Highlanders travel to Georgetown for the second straight year. Tipoff at the Verizon Center is set for 12 p.m. and the game will air live on Fox Sports 2.
Series: Georgetown leads, 2-0
Last meeting: Georgetown 76, Radford 49 (Dec. 13, 2014)
The Highlanders are 19-22 all-time in season openers and 1-3 under head coach Mike Jones.
Radford is starting on the road for the fourth straight year and this will be the third consecutive opener against a major conference opponent.
The matchup is one of eight regional round games that are part of the 2K Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project.
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Game Notes

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

2014-15 Record: 22-12
Coming off a pair of 22-win campaigns that each included a postseason victory, the Highlanders are looking to win 20-plus for a third straight season for the first time in program history.
Radford begins life without standouts Javonte Green and R.J. Price, who finished their careers ranked second and fifth on RU's career scoring list. Green is also the program record-holder in rebounds and steals.
However, the top four scorers last year behind that duo are back as part of a seven-member senior class that is led by four-year members YaYa Anderson, Rashun Davis and Brandon Holcomb.
Anderson is the top returning scorer (9.3 ppg), Davis finished fourth in the Big South in assists per game (3.5) and Holcomb was second in the conference in blocks (49) and second on the team in rebounding.
Fellow senior Cameron Jones was fourth in scoring off the bench in his debut season as a Highlander.
The large senior group is complemented by an accomplished true freshman class comprised of guards Devin Cooper, and Caleb Tanner, forwards Ed Polite, Jr. and Christian Lutete, and center Darius Bolstad.
Mike Jones guided the Highlanders to 57 victories over the last three seasons, tied for second-most over a three-year span in program history.

SCOUTING GEORGETOWN

2014-15 Record: 22-11
Georgetown tied for second in the Big East last season and won one NCAA Tournament game (as a No. 4 seed) before losing to Utah.
Led by returning All-Big East First Team selection D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, the Hoyas were picked to finish second in the conference's preseason poll.
Smith-Rivera, a senior guard and one of two full-time returning starters, was fifth in the Big East in scoring last year at 16.3 ppg, while also dishing out a team-best 3.2 assists per game. In addition, he is GU's top returning rebounder (4.2 per game), while connecting on 72 3-pointers and recording 51 steals.
Sophomores L.J. Peak (7.2 ppg) and Isaac Copeland (6.8 ppg) were both Big East All-Rookies.
Head coach John Thompson III enters his 12th season for the Hoyas and is one win away from his 250th at the school.
Georgetown posted a 57-8 record at home the last four seasons, including 13-3 last year.

UP NEXT

Radford continues its challenging opening weekend roadtrip with a game at in-state foe VCU on Monday, Nov. 16. Tipoff at the Siegel Center in Richmond is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the contest airing on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.