RADFORD EYES THIRD STRAIGHT WIN WEDNESDAY AT GARDNER-WEBB

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SETTING THE STAGE

The Radford men's basketball will try for its third consecutive victory and to again avenge an earlier loss when it travels to Gardner-Webb Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN3.
The Highlanders remain tied with Campbell for sixth place in the conference, one game behind Gardner-Webb, with four contests left.
Last meeting: Radford overcame an 11-point first-half deficit to tie the game, but Gardner-Webb pulled back away for a 70-59 decision on Jan. 4.
Series History: The victory gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a 9-8 all-time lead. Radford holds a 5-3 mark in Boiling Springs but has lost its last two visits. The Highlanders' last win at Paul Porter Arena came on Jan. 19, 2013 (52-51).
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HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 11-15, 6-8
Radford is looking to match a season-long win streak after posting back-to-back revenge victories over Charleston Southern and High Point.
Against High Point, the Highlanders won for the first time this season when shooting under 40 percent, thanks to a season-high 59 rebounds, their highest total since a program-record-tying 65 against Central Penn last season.
Ed Polite, Jr., Randy Phillips and Donald Hicks each posted double-doubles in the game, while Phillips, Hicks and Justin Cousin each tied or broke their career highs in rebounds.
Radford upped its league-rebounding average to 39.9 per game and now has a rebounding margin advantage of 7.1. RU ranks 37th in the NCAA in offensive rebounds per game (12.7).
Polite, Jr.'s 14-point, 10-rebound performance in 27 minutes Saturday was his 11th double-double of the year – tied for the league-lead – and 17th of his career. He averaged 13.5 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 61 percent from the field in the last two games and has scored in double figures in 10 of the last 11 contests.
For the season, the sophomore is now at 10.8 ppg and a conference-best 9.4 rpg, while ranking third in the league with 46 steals and 66 offensive rebounds. Nationally, he is tied for 29th in double-doubles, 33rd in defensive rebounds and 36th in overall rebounding.
Phillips posted his second double-double and third 12-rebound outing of the year, including six offensive boards. He remains second in the Big South with 73, but just four off the lead.
Hicks set a new career-best with his 12 rebounds and scored in double figures for the second straight game and ninth time on the season. He averaged 10.5 points and 8.5 boards in the two wins, while making 5 of 11 3-pointers. He is fourth on the team in scoring at 7.6 ppg.
Darius Bolstad tallied 12 points, six rebounds and four blocks against High Point and averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while making 9 of 13 shots in the two games last week. He now has 33 blocks this season, fourth in the conference.
Christian Bradford remains second in Big South play in assists (4.1) and third overall for the season (3.7), along with 7.3 ppg.
Justin Cousin still leads the team in scoring at 11.1 per game, with Caleb Tanner third at 9.5. The two have combined for 127 3-pointers, ranking second and fifth respectively in makes per game during league play.
Radford is now 4-3 in Big South road games this year and has won seven of 10 dating back to the end of last season.
The Highlanders' comeback win over High Point was its second of the season after trailing by double digits. The overtime victory over Stetson was the other.

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB

Record: 14-13, 7-7
Gardner-Webb is coming off a pair of tough losses, dropping a heart-breaking double-overtime decision to Liberty on Thursday, before falling at Winthrop (77-71) on Saturday.
The Runnin' Bulldogs held late leads in regulation and the first overtime against Liberty and were in front of Winthrop the entire first half.
GWU has shot at least 44 percent from the field in nine straight games, but is just 5-4 during that span.
Tyrell Nelson is second on the team in scoring at 13.4 ppg, while leading the Big South in field-goal percentage at 55.8 and ranking fifth in rebounding (7.0). The senior forward tallied 19 points on 8 of 10 shooting in 23 minutes during the first meeting with Radford.
LaQuincy Rideau leads the conference with 5.0 assists and ranks second with 3.0 steals – fifth in the NCAA – while scoring a team-high 13.7 ppg. In league play, the sophomore is first in both assists (5.2) and steals (3.4) and ranks ninth in scoring (14.8).
Against the Highlanders in January, Rideau had five assists and four steals, but just three points on 1 of 7 shooting.
David Efianayi is also scoring in double figures with 13.0 ppg, while shooting 55 percent.
Jamaal Robateau and Liam O'Reilly average 8.9 and 7.6 ppg, respectively, while combining for 87 3-pointers. Robateau scored 14 points, including 3 for 6 3-pointers, in the first meeting.
Gardner-Webb ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage, third in scoring and fourth in rebounding. Defensively, it leads the way in steals and is third in field-goal percentage defense, but eighth in points allowed and eighth in 3-point defense.
Nationally, the Runnin' Bulldogs are 11th in steals per game and 21st in field-goal percentage.
GWU is 7-7 at home and 3-4 in conference play.

UP NEXT

Radford is back at the Dedmon Center on Saturday, hosting Longwood at 4:30 p.m. in the second game of a doubleheader that will air on ESPN3.

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Players Mentioned

#45 Darius Bolstad: C; 6' 8"; Sophomore

#14 Justin Cousin: G; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior

#24 Ed Polite, Jr.: F; 6' 5"; Sophomore

#10 Caleb Tanner: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#3 Christian Bradford: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#5 Donald Hicks: G; 6' 3"; Freshman

#32 Randy Phillips: C; 6' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#45 Darius Bolstad
: 6' 8"; Sophomore
: C

#14 Justin Cousin
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior
: G

#24 Ed Polite, Jr.
: 6' 5"; Sophomore
: F

#10 Caleb Tanner
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

#3 Christian Bradford
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#5 Donald Hicks
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: G

#32 Randy Phillips
: 6' 8"; Junior
: C