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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Carlik Jones
www.BigTenPhoto.com / Walt Middl
72
Winner Radford RAD 14-6, 6-0
59
Longwood LWU 12-9, 2-4
Winner
Radford RAD
14-6, 6-0
72
Final
59
Longwood LWU
12-9, 2-4
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Radford RAD 36 36 72
Longwood LWU 34 25 59

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE IN SECOND HALF LEADS TO 72-59 WIN AT LONGWOOD


 
FARMVILLE, Va. – A balanced scoring attack and lockdown defense for the entire second half helped the Radford men's basketball earn a key 72-59 victory against Longwood at Willett Hall on Monday.
 
Redshirt sophomore guard Carlik Jones was a man possessed, scoring 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting and five rebounds. Senior forward Ed Polite Jr. went for 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks while senior guard Caleb Tanner hit three 3-pointers and a free throw for 10 points.
 
A 50-percent (13-for-26) shooting performance and only 25 points allowed in the second half lifted the Highlanders to a 14-6 record including a 6-0 mark in Big South play for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.
 
It was Radford versus Isaiah Walton in the first half as Longwood's redshirt senior came off the bench to score 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting before the game reached halftime. The Highlanders led by as many as five points, but Walton made multiple runs all on his own to give the Lancers a five-point lead in the period as well.
 
After falling behind 24-19 with 7:49 until the break, the Highlanders strung together a 10-0 run that put them ahead 29-24 at the 4:25 mark. The defense really stepped up during that streak, taking three charges and holding Longwood scoreless for more than four minutes.
 
Despite Radford's best efforts to keep him in check, Walton scored eight of his points in the final two minutes of the half to cut the Highlanders' lead to 36-34.
 
None of that mattered in the second half as the Highlanders' defense really clicked into place and refused to allow the Lancers much operating room. Jones scored a quick five points right out of the gate and nothing Longwood did could get them back in the game.
 
From 19:21 to 15:06 (4:15), Longwood was held scoreless and then from 12:06 to 7:03 (5:03) the Lancers were held scoreless again. In fact, they weren't able to score a basket in that second stretch until there was 5:47 left in the contest as free throws were the only lifeline they had to score.
 
Radford pushed its lead to as many as 18 points as the game neared its final media timeout and a strong rotation of players off the bench saw out the victory.
 
Walton led all scorers with 26 points, but he only scored five in the second half on 2-of-6 shooting. Junior guard Shabooty Phillips was the only other Lancer to reach double figure scoring at 13 points and the Lancers shot just 31.6-percent (6-19) in the second half.
 
PAINT DOMINATION
Radford dominated Monday night's game in the paint, scoring exactly half of their 72 points (36) near the basket for their best percentage of the season. Junior center Devonnte Holland accounted for eight points and five rebounds and graduate center Mawdo Sallah had four points and three rebounds to lead the big men.
 
LUCKY NUMBER 70
So far during the 2018-19 season, Radford has put together a perfect 12-0 record when scoring 70 or more points in a game. The Highlanders are 6-0 when scoring between 70-79, 5-0 when scoring between 80-99 and 1-0 when scoring 100 or more. It says a lot about how the defense is playing, which has only given up 70-plus points eight times this season and has yet to allow more than 78 points in a single game.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders continue their quest for a Big South regular season title when they welcome Charleston Southern to the Dedmon Center on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7 pm. The game marks the first with students back in town following winter break so big crowds are expected. 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.
 
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