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Radford University Athletics

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Radford Athletics Communications
63
Winner Radford RAD 18-12, 11-6 BSC
50
Liberty LIBERTY 17-13, 8-9 BSC
Winner
Radford RAD
18-12, 11-6 BSC
63
Final
50
Liberty LIBERTY
17-13, 8-9 BSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Radford RAD 30 33 63
Liberty LIBERTY 32 18 50

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

RADFORD'S DEFENSE SHINES IN 63-50 WIN AT LIBERTY



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: Radford 63, Liberty 50
  • Records: Highlanders (18-12, 11-6 Big South) | Flames (17-13, 8-9 Big South)
  • Location: Vines Center | Lynchburg, Va.
 
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Radford received an all-around effort from its offense and defense as the Highlanders swept the Blue Ridge battle with a 63-50 victory over Liberty Thursday night inside the Vines Center.
 
Offensively, Radford placed three in double-figures as Ed Polite, Jr., poured in a game-high 23 points on 7 of 10 shooting, including an 8 for 8 effort from the charity stripe. In seven career games against Liberty, Polite, Jr., has scored 93 points. The double-figure effort was his 12th in Big South play.
 
Carlik Jones followed with 12 points and Donald Hicks chipped in 10 points, eight coming in the opening half. Jones matched a season-high six assists as the Highlanders assisted on 13 of 23 baskets.
 
The Highlanders shot 51.1 percent from the field, making 23 of 45 attempts. Shooting 52.4 percent in the first half, Radford shot over 50-percent for the fifth time on the season, including two straight.  
 
Radford came out of the locker room trailing 32-30 after Liberty regained the lead for the first time since the 18:54 mark in the half as a Ryan Kemrite layup beat the first half buzzer. Trailing by as many as 11 in the half, Liberty used a 20-7 run, highlighted by an 11-point effort from Scottie James on three 3-pointers during the stretch.
 
The Flames pushed the lead to four points early in the second half, however Hicks erased the edge with a 3-pointer to pull within 36-35 three minutes into the half. Polite, Jr. added two of his four free throws in the second half to give Radford a 37-36 lead at the 17:05 mark, a lead they would not give up for the remainder of the game.
 
An offensive rebound putback by Polite, Jr., at the 14:40 mark kick started a 16-0 Radford run. During the run, Radford's offense and defense fired on all cylinders. Polite, Jr. tallied seven points during the run as the junior totaled 15 in the second half.
 
The Highlander defense shined during a one-minute span as Radford forced three straight Liberty turnovers, turning them into seven points. Polite, Jr., started the trend with a steal and breakaway dunk, while Travis Fields, Jr., forced back-to-back miscues, leading to a layup of his own and a 3-pointer for Jones.
 
During the defensive showcase, Radford pushed its lead to 15 points with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation as the Highlanders recorded 14 straight defensive stands.
 
The Highlanders would add two more points on the 16-0 run as Leroy Butts IV finished off a Fields, Jr., assist for a layup as the Highlanders controlled a 57-40 edge.
 
Radford's defense held Liberty scoreless for 9:55 and without a field goal for a span of 10:41 in the final 20 minutes. The span helped the Highlanders build a 17-point lead with just under six-minutes remaining.
 
Liberty added nine points in the final five minutes as the Flames were held to only 18 second-half points on a 6 for 21 effort from the field. The Flames were hot from deep in the first half, making 6 of 9, while freezing in the second half on a 1 for 9 showing.
 
Radford held the Flames offense to below 40-percent shooting for the first time since the last meeting between the two on Jan. 15.
 
The Highlanders led by as many as 11 in the opening half as Radford used a 13-2 run, highlighted by seven points from Hicks and six from Caleb Tanner. Radford made 6 of 7 during the run as the duo added three 3-pointers during the run, Radford's only baskets from beyond the arc in the first half.
 
Radford's 63-50 victory was aided by 16 points off 13 Liberty miscues as Polite, Jr., finished with five steals for the second time on the season.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
  • Radford has now earned the season sweep against Presbyterian and Liberty with a chance to do it to Longwood as well on Saturday
  • With the victory, the Highlanders can finish no lower than third place in the Big South during the regular season
  • Ed Polite, Jr., was stellar leading all players with 23 points and seven rebounds. He now has 96 career points against the Flames.
  • Carlik Jones and Donald Hicks were the other Highlanders in double figures as Jones tallied 12 points, while Hicks added 10.
  • Jones led the Highlanders with six assists.
  • Radford held the Flames scoreless for 14 possessions during its 16-0 run over 9:30 of the second half.
  • Polite Jr., had five of Radford's nine steals to lead the defensive charge.
  • The Highlanders shot 51.1 percent from the floor and held Liberty to 39.5 percent shooting.
  • Radford led for 30:07 and its largest lead was 18, which came with 53 second remaining in the contest.
  • The Highlanders scored 16 points off 13 Flames' turnovers and had 30 points in the paint.
  • Radford held Liberty to just 18 points in the second half and outscored them by 15.
 
QUOTABLE
"Our guys made up their minds early that they were going to defend like they did for 40 minutes. It's tough against Liberty because they shoot the ball so well. They have five guys that can shoot it. When the big fella is knocking down 3-pointers, it makes guarding them exceptionally tough. We didn't wallow in it when they made a few baskets and we dug in again, especially in the second half. Our second half defense was the best I've been around since I've been here. Ed and Travis were terrific in the passing lanes, while everyone else was really solid in taking away the things Liberty does well. I just love the ways our guys played tonight." ~ Radford head coach Mike Jones
 
UP NEXT
  • Radford wraps up the regular season Saturday in Farmville, Va., for a 3 p.m., contest at Longwood.
  • The Lancers are 11-18 overall and 3-13 in the Big South ranking last in the Big South standings.
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