RADFORD TRAVELS TO LIBERTY FOR SATURDAY NIGHT CLASH

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SETTING THE STAGE

The Radford's men's basketball team looks to avenge last month's loss to Liberty when the Commonwealth rivals meet again Saturday night in Lynchburg.
Tipoff in the Vines Center is set for 7 p.m. and the game will air on both the Big South Network and ESPN3.
Last meeting: Radford rallied back from a 25-point deficit to force the Jan. 14 game to overtime, but Liberty prevailed 71-64 with all 12 of its points in the extra period coming on free throws.
Series History: This will be the 70th meeting between the teams with Radford now leading 37-32. The Highlanders had won five of the previous six heading into the season. Liberty holds a 23-11 lead in Lynchburg, but Radford pulled out a 69-67 victory last year on a game-winning basket by Rashun Davis.
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HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 9-14, 4-7
Radford will try to end a four-game losing streak and return to its winning conference ways on the road. The Highlanders had been 6-1 in their last seven league road contests before the setback at UNC Asheville last Saturday.
Ed Polite, Jr. bounced back from his lowest scoring game of the season by tying his campaign-high with 21 points Wednesday against Winthrop. It was his third 20-point outing of the year and fourth in his career.
The sophomore is now averaging 10.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game, ranking first and third in the Big South in the last two categories, respectively.
Despite his season-low two points Wednesday, Justin Cousin still leads the team with 11.0 ppg and still tied for third in the conference with 2.5 made 3-pointers per game. The Winthrop game was just the third league contest in which he failed to make at least two from behind the arc.
Christian Bradford's 14-point outing in the Winthrop was his fifth double-digit performance of the season and second in five games. He made a season-high seven field goals in the game.
With Donald Hicks (10) and Devonnte Holland (8) posting career-high rebound totals against Winthrop, the Highlanders outrebounded their opponent for the 18th time this season. They remain the league's leader in overall rebounding (38.0) and offensive boards (12.9).
Radford has fallen into early holes in each of its last three games, trailing by double digits in each first half and facing an average halftime deficit of 9.3 points.
In the first game against Liberty, the Highlanders followed their lowest-scoring half of the season (12) with their highest-scoring second half (47).
Radford outrebounded the Flames 45-29 in the game and had a 21-0 advantage in second-chance points. Polite, Jr. (2.9) and Randy Phillips (2.7) rank second and third in the Big South, respectively, in offensive rebounds per game.

SCOUTING LIBERTY

Record: 14-10, 9-2
Liberty has won seven of its last eight games – the lone loss coming to Winthrop – and three in a row by an average of 27.6 points.
The Flames have allowed just 51.0 ppg over those last three and the 64 totaled by Radford on Jan. 14 was the most they have surrendered in the last eight contests.
Liberty is now averaging a Big South-low 62.8 ppg overall and 59.4 in the conference play. It also ranks second in field-goal percentage defense and first in 3-point defense and turnover margin. Nationally, it ranks 19th in scoring defense and 16th in turnover margin.
Offensively, the Flames have shot 51.5 percent in the last three games, including 44.5 percent from 3-point range, hitting 37 of 83 attempts. In conference play, they rank second with 9.2 made 3's per game.
Ryan Kemrite continues to lead the team with 14.0 ppg, while shooting 52 percent from the field and 45 percent behind the arc. During league play, he is fifth with 2.5 made 3's and 10th in scoring (14.6).
John Dawson and Lovell Cabbil average 9.4 and 9.1 ppg, respectively. Both are in double figures against Big South opponents, with Cabbil at 11.6 and Dawson at 10.2.
Cabbil led four in double figures with 16 points during the first meeting.
Liberty remains last in the Big South in rebounding, with Dawson their active leader at 4.1 per game.

UP NEXT

Radford is back at the Dedmon Center on Thursday night, playing host to Charleston Southern at 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Rashun Davis: G; 5' 11"; Senior

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

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

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

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

#15 Devonnte Holland: F; 6' 7"; Freshman

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

Players Mentioned

#5 Rashun Davis
: 5' 11"; Senior
: G

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

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

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

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

#15 Devonnte Holland
: 6' 7"; Freshman
: F

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