Men's Basketball 11/24/2020 1:46:00 PM

Men’s Basketball Set to Open 2020-21 Season at Virginia Tech

BLACKSBURG, Va. – It's been 263 days without a basketball game for the Radford men's basketball team, but that changes on Wednesday as the Highlanders travel 16 miles to Cassell Coliseum for a matchup with Virginia Tech at noon.

Coming off its third consecutive 20-win season and its sixth Big South Regular Season Championship, the Highlanders will look to replace eight letterwinners, including all five starters from a season ago.

Along with the starting rotation and key pieces, Radford lost 85.7 percent of its scoring lost from the 2019-20 season, which is third-most in the NCAA. The Highlanders also lost just under 80 percent of its minutes played from a year ago.

However, the Highlanders have a strong core of returning players, including a pair of transfers that sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. Redshirt junior Lewis Djonkam returns as the most experienced Highlander on the court with 12.7 minutes per game last year. Right behind him is Chyree Walker, who averaged 11.2 minutes per game. Walker is Radford's returning leading scorer and rebounder with 3.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.

Josiah Jeffers, who appeared in 26 games last season, is the team's returning 3-point shooter, averaging 35.9 percent from beyond the arc. Radford natives Quinton Morton-Robertson and Miles Jones also saw action in double-digit games.

Dravon Mangum and Jordan Hemphill sat out last season due to transfer rules. Mangum joins Radford from Charlotte, while Hemphill comes from Central Oklahoma. Mangum, a 6-8 redshirt-sophomore forward, made 13 starts for the 49ers and averaged 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game as a freshman. Hemphill played two seasons at Central Oklahoma and averaged 8.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest.

Radford added depth to the roster this year with four transfers, three juniors and one senior, and four freshmen.

The Highlanders and Hokies last faced off on Dec. 6, 2017 in Cassell Coliseum and Radford dropped a 95-68 contest. However, no player from Radford's squad was on the roster the last time the two programs met, and the Hokies had one, Wabissa Bede. Bede played 10 minutes and tallied six points. Virginia Tech leads the all-time series, 8-2.

Virginia Tech was selected to finish 11th in the ACC this season. The Hokies welcome nine newcomers to the team, while returning six letterwinners and three starters. One of the starters, Bede, led the ACC in assist-turnover ratio last season. The other, Tyrece Radford, returns as the Hokies leading scorer averaging 10.2 points. Tech has fared well in season openers since 2000, owning an 18-2 record its last 20 games.

To see the game, fans can stream it live on the ACC Network Extra or tune in to WRAD 101.7 FM or WVRU 89.9 FM. ACC Network Extra is a streaming-only option, offered exclusively through WatchESPN and the ESPN app.

Follow Radford Men's Basketball
For more updates on the Radford Men's Basketball team, keep an eye on RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordMBB on Twitter as well as 'radfordmbb' on Instagram and Radford Men's Basketball on Facebook.

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