Men's Basketball 1/10/2020 4:39:00 PM

RADFORD RETURNS TO THE DEDMON CENTER FOR SATURDAY SHOWDOWN WITH CAMPBELL

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford men's basketball team returns to the Dedmon Center for a Saturday showdown with Campbell at 2 p.m.

The Highlanders (7-7, 2-0 Big South) are fresh off a 67-64 victory over Gardner-Webb that saw Radford improve their shooting from 37.0 percent in the first half to 60.0 percent in the second and go on an 11-0 run to reclaim the game's final lead.

Travis Fields, Jr., led the Highlanders with 16 points, while Carlik Jones added 11 points and six assists. The two players led the team with 35 minutes played each against the Runnin' Bulldogs and helped give Radford its first win this season when trailing at the half.

Jones has garnered a lot of national attention lately after being named to a pair of CollegeInsider.com Mid-Season Watch Lists. The first is the Lute Olson Award, which goes to the nation's top player and the second is the Lou Henson Award, awarded to the nation's top mid-major player. The Cincinnati, Ohio native was named to the Lou Henson Award Preseason Watch List as well.

Fields Jr., has made his presence known the last three games averaging 16.3 points. He's hit a team-high 24 3-pointers this season – including seven in his last three outings. The Portsmouth, Va., native has hit a 3-pointer in every game he's appeared in and has connected on multiple long balls in eight games.

Cle'von Greene has notched 10 or more points in his last three games played. He's knocked down seven 3-pointers and has made his trips to the free throw line count shooting 90 percent (9-for-10) during the three-game stretch.

Devine Eke has been a monster on the glass averaging 6.7 rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the Big South. He's three blocks shy of recording 100 for his career. The Plainfield, N.J., native corralled 50 in his first year at Maine then added 39 in two seasons at Rider and has seven in a Radford uniform for a total of 97.

His strong defensive play is one reason why the Highlanders have allowed the fewest points in the conference. Radford has held opposing teams to an average of 64.0 points per contest, ranking first. The Highlanders have taken care of the ball on the offensive end and sit inside the nation's top 15 in total turnovers (152) and turnovers per game (10.9).

Radford and Campbell won a share of the 2018-19 Big South Regular Season Championship but Campbell swept the season series. However, Radford holds a 22-20 all-time lead and have won 13 of those games inside the Dedmon Center. The Highlanders are looking to begin Big South play 3-0 for the third consecutive season.

The Fighting Camels (10-5, 1-2 Big South) will face their second straight road test after downing UNC Asheville, 64-62, on Wednesday night at Kimmel Arena. Campbell owns a 5-2 record in true road games this season and has won four of its last five away from Buies Creek.

Paced by Cedric Henderson (11.8), Jordan Whitfield (9.8) and Cory Gensler (9.4), six Camels are averaging at least 6.9 points per outing, while 11 are playing double-figure minutes. The Camels have allowed an opponent to shoot better than 50 percent from the floor just twice this season.

Campbell leads the Big South and ranks 30th nationally in free throw percentage (.761) and 21st in 3-point field goal defense (.277). The Camels are also 26th in turnovers forced (17.2) and 28th in turnover margin (+3.6).

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.

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