Men's Basketball 12/13/2020 1:13:00 PM

Men’s Hoops Hosts Longwood for Conference Opener

RADFORD, Va. – Coming off its first win of the 2020-21 season, the Radford men's basketball team looks to continue the momentum when it hosts Longwood for the conference opener on Monday, with another game against the Lancers to follow on Tuesday. Tip-off for both games is slated for 6 p.m.

This year's Big South conference schedule features back-to-back contests against the same opponent at the same location on consecutive days. The schedule format has been adjusted to limit travel and help ensure the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches and staff.

It's the earliest conference game the Highlanders will play since the 2015-16 season when they played Liberty and Coastal Carolina on Dec. 3 and Dec. 6, respectively. It's also the earliest Radford has faced two current Big South members in 10 years as the Highlanders played UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb on Dec. 2 and Dec. 4 of the 2010-11 season.

The Highlanders saw five players score in double-figures the last time out in a 98-50 victory over Mars Hill in the home opener. Lewis Djonkam led all players with 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting against the Lions. Shaquan Jules was right behind him with 14 points. Both were career-highs for the big men. The Highlanders scored 58 of their 98 points on Wednesday afternoon inside the paint.

Radford (1-4) had 14 players see the court against the Lions. Newcomers in Bryan Hart and Jamal Burke saw action and scored their first points as Highlanders.

The league's top scoring and field goal percentage defense is also leading the Big South in rebounding margin by +6.8. Radford has a +1.8 scoring margin over its opponents and are shooting 42.3 percent as a team. Jules is shooting 63.2 percent from the floor (12-for-19) and is fourth on the team with seven points per game.

Fah'Mir Ali and Quinton Morton-Robertson are both averaging north of 10 points per game with Ali's 10.4 being a team-high. Chyree Walker is averaging a team-best 7.4 rebounds per outing after corralling a career-high 11 against Mars Hill.

Longwood (1-3) has had a rough stretch to start the 2020-21 season after dropping its first three games, including a 67-64 loss to Greensboro College. However, the Lancers also picked up their first win earlier in the week against future Big South foe, North Carolina A&T. Christian Wilson led the team in scoring with 15 points.

Wilson is second on the team in points per game with 12.5, while Juan Munoz leads the squad with 13.5 points per outing through the first four contests. Freshman Justin Hill led the Lancers in rebounding against N.C. A&T. He's third on the team with 12.3 points per game, but leads in assists, averaging 6.25 per contest.

The Lancers are second in the league allowing just over 70 points per game, but Radford is first only surrendering 62.8 points per game in five games – the most in the Big South. Longwood is averaging 68.0 points on the offensive side of the ball and is shooting 46.1 percent from the floor, which is fifth-best in the league.

Only players families are allowed to attend the conference opener. The game can be seen on ESPN+ or heard on WRAD 101.7 FM or WVRU 89.9 FM. If fans want to have their faces in attendance, they can purchase a cut-out HERE.

FAN CUTOUTS ARE HERE!

Our first shipment has arrived and Highlander fans are filling the Dedmon Center!

See if you can find yourself in the stands. It's also not too late to join the party with a fan cutout of your very own!

BUY NOW ?? https://t.co/STbuwOhjdM #RiseAndDefend pic.twitter.com/uNo3i9OieS
— Radford Athletics (@ru_athletics) December 11, 2020

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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

#22 Lewis Djonkam: C; 6' 9"; Redshirt Junior

#2 Quinton Morton-Robertson: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#14 Chyree Walker: F; 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#0 Fah'Mir Ali: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

#13 Shaquan Jules: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#30 Jamal Burke: F; 6' 10"; Junior

#15 Bryan Hart: G; 6' 1"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#22 Lewis Djonkam
: 6' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: C

#2 Quinton Morton-Robertson
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#14 Chyree Walker
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#0 Fah'Mir Ali
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G

#13 Shaquan Jules
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#30 Jamal Burke
: 6' 10"; Junior
: F

#15 Bryan Hart
: 6' 1"; Senior
: G