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Men's Basketball

Radford and VMI Rekindle Fan-Favorite Rivalry on Saturday

RADFORD, Va. – Radford and VMI rekindle a Commonwealth rivalry for the first time in five years when they go head-to-head in Lexington on Saturday afternoon.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Opponent: VMI Keydets (4-6, 0-0 SoCon)
Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Cameron Hall (Lexington, Va.)

FOLLOW THE ACTION
Watch: CLICK HERE (ESPN+)
Listen: CLICK HERE (WRAD 101.7 FM)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Buy Tickets: CLICK HERE

SERIES HISTORY
One of the oldest rivalries in Radford's history is also one of its most competitive series ever. The Highlanders and Keydets are tied at 21-21 through 42 all-time meetings dating back to the 1975 season.
 
VMI began the rivalry with three straight wins, including a 112-65 beatdown in the first-ever matchup on Dec. 11, 1975. Radford has had much more success as of late however, winning the last two games.
 
Most recently, Radford came away with a 63-50 win in Cameron Hall on Dec. 2, 2017. Ed Polite, Jr. posted a double-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and a SportsCenter Top 10 dunk. Martinsville product Devonnte Holland had 10 points and eight rebound as well to negate strong games from VMI's Bubba Parham and Austin Vereen.
 
SCOUTING THE KEYDETS
There is one main thing that every opponent needs to know about the VMI Keydets: they shoot three-pointers a lot and they will make a lot of them. With 10 games now under their belt, the team from Lexington now ranks fifth in the nation for three-pointer attempts per game (30.6) and second in the nation for three-pointers made per game (11.9).
 
That heavy reliance on the deep ball has resulted in a 4-6 record, with a single win coming against a fellow Division I opponent in an 80-72 victory over Navy. VMI has dropped games to Richmond, Davidson, Longwood, and Farleigh Dickinson, giving Radford plenty of film to watch and use for game planning.
 
Senior guard Sean Conway has been unbelievable for the Keydets, averaging a team-high 15.2 points per game thanks to a 56-112 (50.0%) performance from beyond the arc that ranks top-10 in the country. Asher Woods is their second-most dangerous scorer with 14.5 points per game, although with five players averaging double-figures, the entire lineup can be a threat on any given night.
 
LACE UP FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER  
SHARPSHOOTING
Head Coach Darris Nichols and his staff knew coming into the season that they needed to recruit players that would fit better into their offensive schemes; players who could space the floor and knock down shots from all three levels. So far, the stats are showing that they've succeeded.
 
Through nine games, the Highlanders rank seventh out of 363 Division I teams in the nation with a .581 effective field goal percentage and 27th with a .495 "traditional" field goal percentage. Effective field goal percentage is different in that it gives three-pointers an added weight compared to two-point attempts when calculating shooting percentages.

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.
 
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