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Men's Basketball

HIGHLANDERS WELCOME UNCG FOR SATURDAY SHOWDOWN

RADFORD, Va. – Coming off one of the biggest wins this season, the Radford men's basketball team looks to defend the Dedmon Center welcoming UNCG on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
 
The Highlanders highest offensive output all season carried them to a 94-71 victory over James Madison on Wednesday night. Radford had five players with double-digit points, led by Carlik Jones' 23 and Leroy Butts' IV career-high 19. Jones added 10 assists for his first double-double of the 2019-20 season. The 23-point victory marks the largest margin of victory for either school in the Radford-James Madison series.
 
Radford shot 54.3 percent from the floor and 47.4 percent from the 3-point line on Wednesday night – both those marks set a season-high. The Highlanders also took a season-most 70 shots from the floor and connected on 38 of them. Radford also forced 12 turnovers and only committed five – the fewest in any game all year. The Highlanders have only committed 73 turnovers all season, which ranks fifth in all of the NCAA. As a team Radford is averaging 10.4 turnovers per game ranking 10th in the nation and has a +2.43 turnover margin.
 
Donald Hicks has connected from long range seven times in the last two games. He knocked down a season-high four 3-pointers for 12 points against James Madison. The senior only had three made 3-pointers through the first five games of the season. He now sits in a tie for 10th place with Kenny Thomas in career 3-point field goals made with 178.
 
Averaging 20.5 points per game, Jones ranks third in the league but still leads all Highlanders. He has scored 1,054 career points, which ranks 28th in Highlander history. The Cincinnati, Ohio native is shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor and is shooting 45.8 percent from 3-point land – his best 3-point percentage so far in a Radford uniform. He's second on the team with 11 3-pointers, behind Travis Fields, Jr., who has 13. Fields Jr., is averaging 11.6 points per game and is leading the team with 30.6 minutes per contest. The duo has had most of Radford's offensive output this season averaging a combined 32.0 points per outing.
 
Thanks to the offensive outburst on Wednesday night, the Highlanders are averaging 72.7 points through the first seven games and shooting nearly 44 percent from the field. Defensively, Radford is allowing 65.6 points per game and is outrebounding its opponents by 4.1, ranking second in the Big South.
 
UNCG (7-2) was the first team out of the 2019 NCAA Tournament field and have started the 2019-20 season with a vengeance. The team's only losses came at Kansas – who was ranked No. 3 at the time – and Montana State. The Spartans lost to the Jayhawks, 74-62, in front of 16,000 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan., and fell to Montana State at home, 67-66, thanks to a buzzer beater just beyond half court as time expired.
 
The Spartans have won four in a row since the devastating loss, including a 65-61 victory at Georgetown on Nov. 30th. The style of play starts with the defense only allowing 54.6 points per game, which ranks sixth in the country. The squad also sits fifth nationally in turnover margin (+7.0), eighth in total blocks (52), 14th in total steals (87) and 12th in forced turnovers (19.0).
 
Leading the charge for the Spartans is Isaiah Miller averaging 15.4 points per game. He has taken 142 field goal attempts, ranking 23rd in the nation but has only connected on 59 of them for a 41.5 shooting percentage. Miller is also shooting 13.8 percent from long range, but makes up for it on the defensive end averaging two steals per game.
 
James Dickey, a 6-10 forward, makes his presence known defensively inside the paint. He's averaging 2.56 blocks per game, ranking 26th in all of college basketball. Forward Kryin Galloway also ranks inside the top 50 with 2.11 blocks per outing and is good for two 3-point makes per game.
 
UNCG holds a 7-4 lead all-time against the Highlanders, but Radford has a 3-1 record against the Spartans when playing inside the Dedmon Center.
 
Saturday's game is 'First Responders Day', where all fire, police and EMS personnel will receive up to two (2) free tickets with the option to purchase more at a discounted rate. Fans are also asked to bring one or more new unboxed stuffed animals to throw onto the court at halftime. All the stuffed animals collected will be donated to the local Carilion Children's Hospital.
 
The game can be seen on ESPN+ or heard live online through Stretch Internet or radio outlets, WRAD 101.7 FM and WVRU 89.9 FM.
 
FOLLOW RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL
To follow the Radford men's basketball team, visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordMBB on Twitter, 'radfordmbb' Instagram or Radford Men's Basketball on Facebook.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Travis Fields, Jr.

#11 Travis Fields, Jr.

G
5' 10"
Senior
Donald Hicks

#5 Donald Hicks

G
6' 3"
Senior
Carlik Jones

#1 Carlik Jones

G
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

Travis Fields, Jr.

#11 Travis Fields, Jr.

5' 10"
Senior
G
Donald Hicks

#5 Donald Hicks

6' 3"
Senior
G
Carlik Jones

#1 Carlik Jones

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
G