Men's Basketball 1/30/2018 2:15:00 PM

RADFORD AIMS TO DEFEND DEDMON ON ESPNU THURSDAY NIGHT

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GAME INFORMATION

Opponent: Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.
Location: Dedmon Center | Radford, Va.
Watch Live (ESPNU and ESPN3.com)
Listen (Super Sports 101.7 FM)
Live Stats
Buy Tickets

GAME DAY SHUTTLE

Radford Athletics and Radford Transit have joined forces once again to bring fans a free and easy-to-use shuttle service from campus to the Dedmon Center. For more information, click here.

SETTING THE STAGE

With Radford stuck in a three-way tie for first place in the Big South with Winthrop and UNC Asheville, every game is a must-win
Thursday's game is one of two games at the Dedmon Center to be broadcast nationally on ESPNU. The second game is Feb. 15 vs. Campbell
Gardner-Webb already beat the Highlanders once this season, earning a 59-54 win over at Paul Porter Arena in Boiling Springs, N.C.

SERIES HISTORY

Radford trails Gardner-Webb, 8-11, in the all-time head-to-head series
The two programs met for the first time during the 2007-08 season when the visiting team won one game each
The Runnin' Bulldogs have won each of the last three meetings and four of the last five

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 14-9 (7-3 Big South) | RPI: 139
The Highlanders are coming off an 81-84 overtime loss to Charleston Southern. It ended a 10-game winning streak at the Dedmon Center dating back to Feb. 9, 2017
The loss also marked the first time Radford has lost on a Saturday (6-1), the first time they've lost an overtime game (3-1), the first time they've lost when scoring 80+ points (2-1) and the first time a game has been tied going into halftime this season
Radford has played in two-straight overtime games for the first time since the 2014-15 season. They last time the team won one overtime game and lost one overtime in the same week was Nov. 26 and 28, 2002
Redshirt freshman guard Carlik Jones went 11-for-11 from the charity stripe against CSU, the third-most free throws made without a miss in a single game in program history. The performance extends his streak of made free throws to 22 dating back to the second half of the Liberty game on Jan. 15
Junior guard Caleb Tanner was 3-for-3 from the free throw line against CSU, extending his own streak of made free throws to 18 dating back to the Virginia Tech game on Dec. 6
Junior forward Ed Polite Jr. pulled down nine boards against CSU Saturday to become the ninth player in program history with 700+ career rebounds
After this past week, the Highlanders' roster now boasts seven different players with 50 or more games played in a Radford uniform: Justin Cousin (114), Ed Polite Jr. (85), Caleb Tanner (75), Donald Hicks (55), Christian Bradford (55), Randy Phillips (55) and Devonnte Holland (50)
Senior center Randy Phillips has recorded at least one steal and one block in five of the last six games

SCOUTING THE RUNNIN' BULLDOGS

Record: 11-12 (6-4 Big South) | RPI: 226
Currently in his fifth year at the helm of GWU's men's basketball program, head coach Tim Craft has accumulated a record of 85-72
The Runnin' Bulldogs are looking for their first Big South title since joining the conference for the 2008-09. They were picked to finish fifth in the Big South Preseason Poll
Gardner-Webb has won at least 10 Big South games in each of the last four seasons
GWU has accumulated a perfect 9-0 record at home, but is only 2-10 in true road games and 0-2 in neutral site games this season
Just like when the teams first met this year, David Efianayi leads the Runnin' Bulldogs in points per game (17.4), Patrick Zeck leads in rebounds per game (5.7) and Liam O'Reilly leads in assists per game (3.4)
D.J. Laster (14.4) and O'Reilly (14.0) join Efianayi in 14.0+ points per game scoring territory
Gardner-Webb has been outscored in the second half of its last four road games by a combined tally of 184-141
Defense has been an issue for GWU, who allows 72.6 points per game for a -1.3 scoring margin
Rebounding on the other hand is a major strength for a GWU squad that averages 36.7 rebounds per game. That ranks second in the Big South

NEXT HOME GAME

After the Highlanders travel to Winthrop for a 2 p.m. contest this Saturday, they return to the Dedmon Center for a midweek battle with High Point on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.
Radford has defeated the Panthers once already this season, snagging a 78-76 overtime victory on a buzzer-beating jumper by Carlik Jones
To purchase tickets, visit radfordtickets.com or call the ticket office at (540) 831-7889

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