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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Javonte Green
Big South Sports Photos
67
Winner Winthrop WINTHROP 18-12, 12-6 BSC
66
Radford RAD 21-11, 12-6 BSC
Winner
Winthrop WINTHROP
18-12, 12-6 BSC
67
Final
66
Radford RAD
21-11, 12-6 BSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Winthrop WINTHROP 21 46 67
Radford RAD 24 42 66

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

RADFORD FALLS TO WINTHROP IN BIG SOUTH QUARTERFINALS

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CONWAY, S.C. - Radford's attempt to defeat Winthrop for a third time this season came up a point short in the Big South Tournament quarterfinals Friday at the HTC Center. The Highlanders swept the season series from the Eagles, but struggled from the free throw line and shot under 40 percent from the field in a 67-66 loss. RU hit just 18 of 29 from the charity stripe. RU is now 2-8 all-time vs. Winthrop in the league tournament.

Javonte Green recorded his fourth straight double-double to possibly close out the season and his career with 18 points and 12 rebounds. In the process, he became RU's second all-time leading scorer with 1,870 points moving past Whit Holcomb-Faye on the career list. The dozen rebounds pushed his total to a Radford record 1,040.

Radford held a 24-21 lead at the half, but could have pushed that lead to a more sizeable margin. The Highlanders hit just 5 of 12 free throw attempts in the first 20 minutes and committed nine turnovers, and RU head coach Mike Jones admitted in the postgame interview that the lead should have been closer to double digits.

"The games that we play against Winthrop since Coach Kelsey got there are all the same," Jones said. "It's like Groundhog Day. The team which makes one more play wins. Unfortunately for us, they made more plays today."

Radford held a five-point lead after Brandon Holcomb knocked down the first shot of the second half to lead 26-21. It would be the biggest margin in the Highlanders' favor on the day. A Green layup with 11:53 to play gave RU another five-point advantage, but back-to-back treys from Keon Moore gave Winthrop a 42-41 lead with 9:07 left.

The two teams exchanged baskets until a Keon Johnson three-pointer gave WU the lead for good at 49-47 with 4:50 remaining. The basket came on a second chance opportunity for the Eagles when Andre Smith grabbed his own miss and found Johnson on the perimeter. Winthrop stretched the lead to as many as seven for the first time with 1:20 to play. The Eagles made 18 of 20 free throws in the second half, including 12 of 14 in the final 1:20 to keep Radford just out of striking distance.

The Highlanders scored three straight three-point baskets, two by Rashun Davis, who finished with 13 points, and another by YaYa Anderson, who scored 16, but it was too little too late for RU. With Winthrop connecting on nearly all of its free attempts, Radford was never able to close the game to within one score and get the ball in its possession as the game came to a close.

Moore led the Eagles with 21 points. Smith and Johnson added 18 and 12, respectively. The game was indicative of a Radford / Winthrop game. The two teams have met 67 teams now (RU leads 35-32), and 17 of those contests have been decided by a single possession.

"I really thought we had a team capable of having a good weekend. Right now, I just feel bad for my team," Jones said. "I'm proud of our seniors and how they've been able to get the program to this point."

If the Highlanders do not receive a postseason berth, the loss closes out the careers of four seniors, Green, Carethers, R.J. Price, and Kyle Noreen.
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