Highlanders' Offense Explodes For 95-80 Victory Over High Point; Radford Now Winners of Five Straight

Saturday, January 21

Radford, Va.

2:00 PM

Radford University

12-9,6-2Big South

High Point

10-10,2-6Big South

Team	1	2	F
High Point	33	47	80
Radford	46	49	95

Photo by: Lillie Ruble

Highlanders' Offense Explodes For 95-80 Victory Over High Point; Radford Now Winners of Five Straight

1/21/2023 4:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

RADFORD, Va. – Career highs for both DaQuan Smith and Justin Archer were the catalyst in a 95-80 victory for the Radford men's basketball team over High Point on Saturday afternoon.

The Highlanders are the winners of five straight games and improve to 12-9 overall, 6-2 in Big South play, and 7-1 on Carilion Clinic Court in the Dedmon Center. The Panthers win streak is halted at two, dropping them to 10-10 on the season and 2-6 against conference foes.

Redshirt junior guard DaQuan Smith has been on a tear in January and this time out was no different as he scored the first basket of the game to begin a 22-point outburst that set a new career-high. The Holly Springs, Miss. native went 8-for-16 from the floor and 2-for-4 from deep.

His running mate, sophomore forward Justin Archer, had another monster game with a career-high 18 points and 13 rebounds. The North Brunswick, N.J. product shot a blistering 8-for-9 and now has three double-doubles on the year.

Bryan Antoine returned from a two-game absence and immediately made an impact, dropping 16 points and coming up with a pair of big steals. Josiah Jeffers joined the double-digit scoring club with 10 points, four rebounds, and a season-high four steals.

The Panthers came into Saturday's game averaging 39.8 rebounds per game but were stifled around the rim as the Highlanders earned a dominant 43-to-27 advantage on the boards.

Reigning Co-Big South Freshman of the Year Zach Austin did everything he could to keep HPU in the game, going on a run down the stretch to turn a 27-point lead for Radford with 6:13 on the clock into a tight game.

He knocked down shot after shot, leading all players with 26 points, but 17 team turnovers doomed the visitors.

KEY STATS

The Highlanders grabbed double-digit offensive rebounds for the second consecutive game, racking up 12 at Campbell on Wednesday and another 20 today
Radford turned the ball over just nine times, its second-straight game with single digit giveaways
Points in the paint were 48-to-28 in favor of the Highlanders
Radford also scored 27 second chance points compared to just seven for High Point

HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME

KG drains the buzzer beater right before halftime!#RiseAndDefend?? x #BigSouthMBB pic.twitter.com/OD4hXguYKp
— Radford Men's Basketball (@RadfordHoops) January 21, 2023

AROUND THE BIG SOUTH
Gardner-Webb 63, Winthrop 61
UNC Asheville 64, USC Upstate 58
Longwood 58, Presbyterian 56

UP NEXT
Radford turns its attention to a nationally televised game against Longwood on Thursday night as ESPNU comes to town. The battle will begin at 7 p.m. inside Carilion Clinic Court at the Dedmon Center and tickets are available now at RadfordTickets.com.

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.