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Radford Athletics Communications
65
Winner Georgia Southern GS 3-3
64
Radford RAD 2-4
Winner
Georgia Southern GS
3-3
65
Final
64
Radford RAD
2-4
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Georgia Southern GS 29 36 65
Radford RAD 29 35 64

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

RADFORD DROPS 65-64 DECISION TO GEORGIA SOUTHERN



Box Score (PDF)

GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: Georgia Southern 65, Radford 64
  • Records: Radford (2-4) | Georgia Southern (3-3)
  • Location: Savannah Civic Center | Savannah, Ga.
 
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Radford went down to the wire for the second day in a row in the Savannah Invitational Saturday afternoon, but this time was unable to pull out a victory as Georgia Southern took the lead in the final minute and held on, 65-64, in a tight back and forth battle.
 
The game featured six ties and 14 lead changes, with the last coming on a driving layup by Tookie Brown, last year's Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, with 51 seconds left. Ed Polite, Jr. grabbed an offensive rebound on the ensuing possession and the Highlanders called timeout with 24 seconds to play.
 
When play resumed, though, Georgia Southern's defense prevented Radford from getting an open look as the clocked ticked down and a desperation 3-point attempt by Polite, Jr. was partially blocked to end the game.
 
For the first time on its four-game roadtrip, Radford got off to strong start offensively, connecting on 9 of its first 14 field-goal attmepts, including 6 of 10 3-pointers. Christian Bradford hit a pair of early treys and Caleb Tanner, Christian Lutete and Justin Cousin and Donald Hicks made one each in a span of five possessions. Randy Phillips followed with a pair of free throws to cap a 14-5 run for a 27-21 lead at the 8:51 mark.
 
However, the Highlanders went ice cold the rest of the half, missing their last 12 shots, allowing the Eagles to tie the game at 29-29 at the break.
 
Radford scored the first six points of the second half, though, on an inside basket by Phillips and two by Polite, Jr. Tanner's 3-pointer gave the Highlanders their biggest lead at 48-41 with 12:14 left. Georgia Southern came back with a 15-4 spurt over the next five minutes that included three 3-pointers to take at 56-52 edge.
 
After Cousin converted a layup, Bradford scored eight straight Radford points on two 3-pointers and a jumper to push the Highlanders back in front 62-58 with 4:36 to go. That was their last field goal, though, and the Eagles got a 3-pointer followed by a jumper from leading scorer Ike Smith to tie it at 63-63. Bradford hit one of two free throws with 2:03 on the clock for Radford's last point.  Georgia Southern then blocked a shot and forced a turnover on the Highlanders' next possession, before Brown's go-ahead drive.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Making his second straight start, Bradford had by far his best game as a Highlander, tallying a team-high 15 points on 5 for 8 from the field and 4 of 5 from behind the arc. The junior transfer also added four rebounds and three assists, with just one turnover.
  • Phillips also finished in double figures with 12 points, including 4 of 5 free throws, while Tanner added nine points on 3 of 6 3-pointers.
  • Following his huge game on Friday, Polite, Jr. scored five points on 2 of 5 from the field, while again leading the team with eight rebounds and adding two blocks.
  • Radford made a season-high 11 3-pointers (on 26 attempts), but connected on just 5 of its last 16 after the hot start.
  • The Highlanders again were better overall from the field in the second half, though, shooting 46 percent to finish at 41 percent for the game.
  • Radford also had a slight rebounding edge at 33-29, but Georgia Southern managed an 18-11 advantage in second-chance points.
  • The Highlanders committed a season-low 12 turnovers.
  • Georgia Southern prevailed despite leading scorers Smith and Brown combining for just 17 points on 6 of 18 shooting. Smith was held 14 points below his average, finishing with eight.
  • Shawn O'Connell was the lone Eagle in double figures, scoring a season-high 15 points, while adding nine rebounds. 
  • GSU shot 61 percent (14 of 23) in the second half and 48 percent in the game, including an efficient 8 of 13 from long range. Jake Allsmiller and Devonte Boykins combined to go 5 for 5 on 3-pointers off the bench.
 
QUOTABLE
  • "I'm proud of the way the guys competed and gave themselves opportunities to win the game. We just didn't get it done. That last possession it seemed like there were six (defenders) out there. We were trying to get it into Phillips in the post, but they didn't let it go in there. We're a young team and we'll learn how to execute better in those situations. But we're not in that situation if we get a stop on the other end. We still had just one or two breakdowns defensively. But I'm proud of the way the guys have grown from that game at Akron to losing our point guard and regrouping and continuing to get better." ~ Radford head coach Mike Jones
 
UP NEXT
  • The Highlanders finally return home for their second game of the season inside the Dedmon Center Wednesday night, playing host to in-state rival VMI. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
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