HIGHLANDERS GET BACK ON TRACK WITH 80-68 VICTORY OVER GEORGIA SOUTHERN

Friday, December 21

Radford

6 P.M.

Radford University

7-5,0-0BSC

Georgia Southern

8-4,0-0Sun Belt

Team	1	2	F
Georgia Southern	35	33	68
Radford	35	45	80

Photo by: Jeff Sochko/timcowiephotography.

HIGHLANDERS GET BACK ON TRACK WITH 80-68 VICTORY OVER GEORGIA SOUTHERN

12/21/2018 8:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Follow @RadfordMBB

RADFORD, Va. – A scorching-hot shooting effort and lockdown defense helped the Radford men's basketball team get back on track with an 80-68 victory over Georgia Southern at the Dedmon Center on Friday night. With the win, Radford improves to 7-5 on the season and 4-0 in the Dedmon Center while Georgia Southern drops to 8-4.

Coming into the night as the eighth-highest scoring offense in the nation at 88.7 points per game, the Eagles were held well below their usual output as the Highlanders racked up seven steals and four blocks while maintaining a slower tempo. Georgia Southern went just 25-for-58 (43.1%) from the floor despite posting a 51.4 shooting percentage across 11 other games this season.

Radford caught fire in the second half, going 16-for-28 (57.1%) from the field and 7-for-12 (58.3%) from beyond the arc over the final 20 minutes. Sophomore guard Travis Fields Jr. was a big part of that and he finished the game 7-for-11, including four 3-pointers, for a career-high 18 points. The Portsmouth, Va. native also recorded five steals in a team-leading 35 minutes played.

Both teams got off to a quick start, each going 4-for-5 on their first five attempts from the floor. The Eagles were the first to find some separation, pushing the tempo as much as they could to take a 15-11 lead through seven minutes of action.

The Highlanders found their rhythm though, going on a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the game of 20-15 at the 11:09 mark. They were able to increase their lead to as much as seven points before Georgia Southern hit back with a run of their own.

From 8:08 to 2:56, the Eagles outscored Radford 13-4 to go back in front by a score of 30-28. An exchange of baskets as the half came to a close brought the score to 35-35 heading into the break.

Georgia Southern looked strong to begin the second half, going on an 8-2 run to jump out in front 47-41 with 14:52 left to play. From that point on, the Highlanders outscored the Eagles 39-21 and took complete control of the game.

Junior guard Devin Hutchinson kick started the comeback, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers to bring Radford within one-point midway through the period. Fields Jr. continued that momentum, capitalizing on GSU turnovers to give Radford its second 13-2 run of the night and a 62-55 lead with less than eight minutes to play.

Several clutch shots and some important free throws went down for the Highlanders down the stretch and they were able to hang on for the win.

Jones once again stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, seven assists, six rebounds and a steal in an all-around performance. Senior guard Caleb Tanner followed with 14 points thanks to a 4-for-7 night from 3-point range and senior forward Ed Polite Jr. posted his seventh double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

PLAY OF THE GAME

2H | 5:06

Radford 68
Georgia Southern 61

LEROOOOOOY FOR THREEEEE! The sophomore drains it to restore Radford's 7-point lead!#RiseAndDefend | #BigSouthMBB pic.twitter.com/M6eBQUKNZu
— Radford Men's Basketball (@RadfordMBB) December 22, 2018

RIM PROTECTORS
Both active centers on the Radford roster – Mawdo Sallah and Devonnte Holland – recorded blocks against Georgia Southern. It was the fifth time this season both players have been credited with at least one block in the same game. Sallah currently leads the team with 18 on the season.

TIED AT HALFTIME
Radford and Georgia Southern went into halftime knotted up at 35-all. It was the second time the Highlanders have entered the break tied at 35, joining their game at James Madison on Dec. 4. In 243 games under Coach Jones, Radford has only had a tied game at half 19 times and has gone 10-9 in those games.

UP NEXT
The Highlanders will get a chance to go to their respective homes and enjoy the holidays with their families before reuniting for one more game in 2018. Radford will travel to College Park, Md. to take on the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 6 pm. The game will air nationally on ESPNU.

FOLLOW RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL
To follow the Radford men's basketball team, visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordMBB on Twitter, 'radfordmbb' on Instagram or Radford Men's Basketball on Facebook.