Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Devonnte Holland

Men's Basketball

RADFORD AND MARYLAND GO HEAD-TO-HEAD SATURDAY ON ESPNU


 
RADFORD, Va. – The Radford men's basketball program gets one last shot at a Power 5 opponent in 2018 when it travels to College Park, Md. for a Saturday night clash with the Maryland Terrapins.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Opponent: Maryland Terrapins (9-3, 0-0 Big Ten)
Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 29 at 6 p.m.
Location: XFINITY Center (College Park, Md.)
Television: ESPNU
Video Stream (ESPN3)
Listen (WRAD 101.7 FM)
Live Stats
Buy Tickets
 
LAST TIME OUT
A scorching-hot shooting effort and lockdown defense helped Radford 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. The Highlanders also dominated on the boards, earning a 41-27 advantage in rebounds.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Radford and Maryland men's basketball programs have only played one game, which occurred on Dec. 23, 2011 during Head Coach Mike Jones' first season leading the Highlanders. The Highlanders went into the Comcast Center (now the XFINITY Center) and nearly upset the Terrapins before ultimately falling, 65-60.
 
The game was tied at 39-all heading into halftime and was still knotted up at 46-all midway through the second period, but Maryland took the lead at the 9:34 mark and never relinquished it. R.J. Price led Radford with 22 points while Javonte Green posted a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double.
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Senior forward Ed Polite Jr. had high expectations coming into his final collegiate campaign and he is without a doubt meeting those expectations. Through 12 games, the Lanham, Md. native now has seven double-doubles, ranking tied for sixth in the nation in the category.
 
Heading into the matchup with Maryland, he has three straight double-doubles in Radford's games against Clemson, UNCG and Georgia Southern. Polite Jr. also has at least one assists in 11 of 12 games, at least one steal in 10 of 12 games and at least one block in 9 of 12 games.
 
FIELDS OF GREEN
Junior guard Travis Fields Jr. is having a banner season so far and he had his best performance of the year against Georgia Southern. The Portsmouth, Va. native recorded career highs in points (18), field goals made (7) and minutes played (35) while tying his career high of four three-point field goals made.
 
After starting just one game in 2017-18 following his arrival in Radford from Old Dominion University, Fields Jr. has now started 10 games in 2018-19 and upped his production in nearly every way. He's one of four Highlanders averaging 11+ points per game and is the only player on the roster to have recorded 5+ steals in a game which he has done twice now.
 
SCOUTING THE TERRAPINS
Maryland has put together a strong 9-3 record to begin the season, but most of those wins have come against mid-majors. Only one win, a 66-59 victory over Penn State, has come against Power 5 opposition. As a result, the Terrapins stopped receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll for the first time this season following a 78-74 loss to Seton Hall on Dec. 22.
 
As a team, the Terrapins are averaging 77.4 points per game and allowing just 65.2 points per game for a +12.2 scoring margin. They rebound the ball very well and pull down 40.3 per game for a very impressive +11.7 rebounding margin. It's important to note that Radford is 0-5 when being out-rebounded this season. Maryland is also very strong at home in the XFINITY Center, going 7-2 with an average of 13,009 fans in attendance.
 
Junior guard Anthony Cowan Jr. leads the way with 17.0 points and assists per game. Sophomore forward Bruno Fernando (14.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg) is a force in the post and freshman forward Jalen Smith (11.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg) gives them another reliable scoring option.
 
NEXT HOME GAME
The Highlanders kick off the new year with one final non-conference game against Mars Hill on Tuesday, Jan. 1. The game is slated for 3 p.m. and will be aired live on ESPN+ per usual. Tickets can be purchased on RadfordTickets.com or by calling the Radford Ticket Office at (540) 831-7889 during business hours.
 
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.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Javonte Green

#2 Javonte Green

F
6' 4"
Junior
R.J. Price

#10 R.J. Price

G
5' 11"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Javonte Green

#2 Javonte Green

6' 4"
Junior
F
R.J. Price

#10 R.J. Price

5' 11"
Junior
G