","thumbnailUrl":null,"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Radford University Athletics","jobTitle":null},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Radford University Athletics","url":"https://radfordathletics.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://radfordathletics.com/images/logos/site/site.png","width":50,"height":50}},"about":null,"speakable":{"type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":["article-content","article-headline"]}} RADFORD OPENS CONFERENCE PLAY WITH 78-62 WIN OVER PC - Radford University Athletics
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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
David Boyden
78
Winner Radford RAD 8-6, 1-0
62
Presbyterian PC 7-7, 0-1
Winner
Radford RAD
8-6, 1-0
78
Final
62
Presbyterian PC
7-7, 0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Radford RAD 40 38 78
Presbyterian PC 32 30 62

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

RADFORD OPENS CONFERENCE PLAY WITH 78-62 WIN OVER PC



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: Radford 78, Presbyterian 62
  • Records: Radford 8-6 (1-0 Big South) | Presbyterian 7-7 (0-1 Big South)
  • Location: Templeton Center | Clinton, S.C.
 
CLINTON, S.C. – Radford men's basketball turned in a complete team effort in a 78-62 wire-to-wire victory over Presbyterian to open Big South play at the Templeton Center Saturday night.
 
The Highlanders set season highs in points scored (78), field goal percentage (51.7%) and 3-point field goal percentage (50%) while using their athleticism and a superior execution of the game plan to hold the Blue Hose to 39.7% (23-58) from the floor.
 
The Blue Hose were on fire shooting the ball for about 25 minutes, hitting over 50% of their attempts as a team, before Radford clamped down and changed the game. Following a PC layup at the 14:36 mark in the second half, the Highlanders held the opposition without another field goal until there was only 2:05 remaining on the clock.
 
In that 12-minute span, Radford outscored Presbyterian 24-6 and took complete control of the game.
 
With the victory, Radford improves to 8-6 overall and 1-0 in conference play while Presbyterian drops to 7-7 and 0-1 against Big South foes.
 
Junior forward Ed Polite Jr. picked up where he left off in Las Vegas, recording his fourth double-double of the season and 24th of his career with 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting and 15 rebounds.
 
Reigning Big South Freshman of the Week Carlik Jones lived up to that billing with 16 points on a brutally efficient 6-for-8 from the floor. He added six rebounds and a season-high five assists for good measure.
 
Junior guard Caleb Tanner knocked down a season-high four 3-pointers for 12 points while senior center Randy Phillips hit 5-of-6 shots for 11 points.
 
Radford led for the entire first half, but it was a close contest from the jump. With the game tied at five just four minutes in, the Highlanders went on a 7-0 run to push their lead to seven at 12-5.
 
The Blue Hose found their stroke, however, and provided an answer for every basket Radford scored. A shot clock-beating 3-pointer from Davon Bell with 7:19 to go in the period capped a streak in which PC connected on six of seven shots.
 
It was junior Francois Lewis who caused the most issues for Radford. The forward dropped 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting including four 3-pointers in the first half alone. He entered the game averaging 10.5 points per game, but finished with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Sophomore guard Travis Fields Jr. was unavailable to play in Saturday's game due to illness
  • Radford improves to 4-3 in conference openers under head coach Mike Jones
  • The Highlanders stay perfect when holding opponents between 60-69 points at 6-0. They are also 5-0 when playing on Saturdays this season
  • 40 points is the most Radford has scored in the first half all season. Their previous high was 38 against James Madison
  • Polite Jr. knocked down two 3-pointers for the first time in his career. He had made one in six different games
  • Radford did not have a 20+ point scorer through 12 games this season, but Polite Jr. has poured in 24 points in back-to-back contests
  • Sophomore forward/center Devonnte Holland did work on the boards, pulling down six in 16 minutes played
  • The Highlanders out-rebounded the Blue Hose by a dominating 44-27
  • Davon Bell joined Lewis in double-figures with 12. He impressed with a game-high nine assists
  • PC was 6-for-12 from beyond the arc in the first half, but only 2-for-15 in the second half
 
QUOTABLE
"Our defense was tremendous in the second half. We knew Presbyterian wasn't going to be a pushover and we needed to play with a lot of intensity. We had four or five guys who came into the game sick, but there are no excuses this time of the year and I'm proud of our guys for keeping up that intensity for 40 minutes." - Head Coach Mike Jones
 
UP NEXT
  • The Highlanders return home for the first time since Dec. 9th to continue Big South play against Winthrop on Wed. Jan. 3rd at 7 p.m.
  • The Eagles are 7-5 and 1-0 in conference after defeating High Point, 76-60, on Saturday
 
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