Highlanders Falter Down The Stretch in Loss To UNC Asheville

Thursday, December 29

Asheville, NC

4:00 PM

Radford University

6-8,0-1Big South

UNC Asheville

9-5,1-0Big South

Team	1	2	F
Radford	28	30	58
UNC Asheville	30	32	62

Photo by: Rob Simmons

Highlanders Falter Down The Stretch in Loss To UNC Asheville

12/29/2022 6:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Eighteen lead changes and seven ties later, the Radford men's basketball team dropped its Big South opener, 62-58, to UNC Asheville is a back-and-forth battle at Kimmel Arena on Thursday afternoon.

A tough drive to the hoop by senior guard Josiah Jeffers gave the Highlanders (6-8, 0-1 Big South) a 55-54 lead with 3:08 left to play. That would be the last field goal made by the visitors for nearly the rest of the game as the Bulldogs (9-5, 1-0 Big South) clamped down and charged out in front.

Drew Pember, the nation's leader in made free throws, didn't make a single trip to the line until the 2:50 mark of the second half and he hit both shots to give UNC Asheville the lead. He ended the game 5-for-6 at the charity stripe to ice the game, including two in the final 15 seconds that negated DaQuan Smith's clutch three with 19 seconds to go.

Smith led all players with 14 points, making a season-high four three-pointers on eight attempts. Radford's offensive output came from up and down the roster, with eight different players getting on the scoresheet, but no one shot particularly well as the team went just 22-for-57 (38.6%) to shoot under 40.0% for the third time in the last four games.

UNC Asheville also made 22 field goals, but on nine less attempts to record a 47.8 shooting percentage. The hosts also shot a blazing 52.9% (9-for-17) from deep.

The big man duo of Justin Archer (8 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks) and Madiaw Niang (9 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block) had excellent games in the post. They even held Pember to just 12 points after the Tennessee transfer dropped 41 in the Dedmon Center a season ago.

KEY STATS

UNC Asheville attempted just three free throws in the first half, but went 8-for-10 in the second half while the Highlanders went 3-for-7 in the same frame
Souleymane Koureissi tied his season high with two steals off the bench
Onyebuchi Ezeakudo dished out a team-high three assists and had just one turnover

HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME

2H | 5:40
Radford 50, AVL 48

Another THREEEE ball and Quan is into double figures#RiseAndDefend?? x #BigSouthMBB pic.twitter.com/uVJ7Uu5t2I
— Radford Men's Basketball (@RadfordHoops) December 29, 2022

UP NEXT
The Highlanders' five-game road swing has finally come to an end meaning a home game is up next! Radford hosts Presbyterian at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31 to celebrate New Year's Eve inside the Dedmon Center. Tickets are available at radfordtickets.com and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

FOLLOW RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL
To follow the Radford men's basketball team throughout the season, visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordHoops on Twitter, 'radfordhoops' Instagram or Radford Men's Basketball on Facebook.