RADFORD FACES FIRST-PLACE UNC ASHEVILLE THURSDAY ON ESPNU

Follow @RadfordMBB

RADFORD, Va. – The challenging stretch of games for the Radford men's basketball team continues Thursday night as it travels to Big South leader UNC Asheville for a 9 p.m. showdown on ESPNU.

The Highlanders (13-11, 6-6) will try to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season, while UNC Asheville (17-8, 10-3) has won three in a row and four of its last five. It will be Radford's third consecutive game against a team in first or second place in the conference and also third straight vs. an opponent riding at least a three-game winning streak.

With a victory, Radford would sweep the regular-season series against Asheville for the first time since its Big South championship campaign in 2008-09.

SETTING THE STAGE

Series: UNC Asheville leads 34-33
Location: Kimmel Arena
Time: 9 p.m.
TV: ESPNU
Live Stats
Live Video
Live Audio
Game Notes

LAST MEETING
Radford overcame an 11-point second-half deficit and rallied from down five with less than 1:30 to play to force overtime before pulling out a 91-86 victory at the Dedmon Center on Jan. 14.

Rashun Davis tallied the final five points of regulation for the Highlanders, who then converted on their first five possessions of the extra period, taking the lead for good, 87-85, on a jumper by Taj Owens with 1:24 left. Davis and Owens then combined to make 4 of 4 at the free throw line in the final minute to seal it.

Seven Radford players tallied at least eight points and four reached double figures, led by Davis' 16 and Cameron Jones' 15. Ed Polite, Jr. totaled 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. RU shot 52 percent in the game, outrebounded Asheville 42-36 and totaled 52 points in the paint.

UNC Asheville had six players in double figures, led by Will Weeks' 23 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS
Davis' 22-point game against Coastal Carolina was his sixth 20-plus point outing of the season after having four such games prior to this year and none last season. Now in 15th place on the program's career scoring list with 1,204, he is 25 away from 14th and would need 109 more (with at least seven games remaining) to tie for 10th. Davis is 10th in the Big South at 14.0 ppg, while leading the conference in assists (4.7) and ranking third in steals (1.9).

Jones has scored in double figures in seven straight games and is averaging 15.5 ppg in Big South play, ranking eighth in the league. He is also third in 3-point percentage (40.7) and made 3-pointers per game (2.9).

Polite, Jr. is averaging 9.3 rebounds and 3.1 blocks over the last seven contests. He has grabbed at least seven rebounds in eight straight outings and recorded multiple blocked shots in six of the last seven games. In Big South play, the freshman ranks fourth in rebounds (7.9) and second in blocks (2.3). He needs two more blocks to tie for 10th-most in program history for a single season (46).

Brandon Holcomb has averaged 10.5 points over the last six games. He has made 15 of 18 shot attempts in the last three contests and is now hitting at a 59 percent clip from the field on the season.

Radford is just 11-19 all-time at UNC Asheville, but posted a 72-65 victory there last season. YaYa Anderson led the way with 22 points, including six 3-pointers.

SCOUTING UNC ASHEVILLE
UNC Asheville extended its win streak and remained in front in the conference with an 81-71 victory at Campbell on Saturday. The Bulldogs have taken advantage of a favorable stretch in their schedule with home wins over Longwood and Charleston Southern before that. The lone loss in the last five games came at Coastal Carolina in overtime.

They have remained balanced offensively, with five players averaging in double figures. Freshman Dylan Smith leads the way with 13.9 ppg and a team-best 59 3-pointers. He tallied 18 points and hit 5 of 11 long-range attempts in the first meeting and is averaging 15.2 ppg in conference play.

Guard Kevin Vannatta averages 12.0 ppg while shooting 50 percent from the field, including 36 percent from 3-point range. Freshman Dwayne Sutton is third in the Big South with 7.6 rebounds per game, along with scoring 11.0 points. However, he had just one point and five rebounds against the Highlanders last month. Guard Sam Hughes and forward Ahmad Thomas contribute 10.8 and 10.1 ppg, respectively. Weeks is at 7.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game for the season.

On the other end, Asheville ranks fifth in the NCAA in 3-point percentage defense (28.4) and seventh in steals per game (9.3). Six different Bulldogs have recorded at least 26 steals, led by Thomas with 46. UNCA is forcing opponents into 15.4 turnovers per game and has won the turnover battle in each of its last 15 outings. Campbell committed 19 turnovers in its loss Saturday, while Radford overcame 17 turnovers in winning the first meeting. Asheville also ranks third in the Big South in field-goal percentage defense (42.9) and points allowed (68.1).

UNCA is 10-1 at home on the season and has won seven straight, including six in Big South play.

UP NEXT
Radford turns around quickly for its next game, a rematch against Winthrop Saturday at 12 p.m. inside the Dedmon Center. The Eagles posted an 87-77 victory on their home floor less than two weeks ago.

Print Friendly Version