RADFORD, Va. – The Radford men's basketball team takes its two-game winning streak to the state capitol when it takes on VCU on Wednesday night.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Opponent: VCU Rams (1-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)

FOLLOW THE ACTION
Television: MASN
Streaming: CLICK HERE (ESPN+)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Radio: CLICK HERE (WRAD 101.7/103.5 FM)
Tickets: CLICK HERE

SERIES HISTORY
The Highlanders are 3-7 all-time against the Rams, with one clear delineation: Radford is 3-0 at home and 0-7 in Richmond. The last time VCU visited the Dedmon Center was Dec. 18, 1999.
 
Somewhat mirroring the Marshall series, the two programs met almost every season between 1989 and 1999 and then the in-state rivalry went dormant. It was revived when Radford made a trip to the Siegel Center in 2015, and then revitalized last season.
 
In that meeting a season ago, the Highlanders went on the road and fell, 70-62, in front of a sold out crowd. Kenyon Giles and DaQuan Smith carried the Radford offense with 13 and 11 points, respectively, but a two-point halftime lead was erased in the narrow loss.
 
SCOUTING THE RAMS
Win consistently and you're at risk of losing your head coach – that's just life at the mid-major level. After winning the Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament championships a year ago, VCU lost head coach Mike Rhoades and his staff to Penn State and enter a new era under Ryan Odom.
 
With a new-look roster as well, the Rams were voted second in the A-10 Preseason Poll, garnering a trio of first place votes as well. KenPom had VCU as the 86^th best team in the nation in the preseason, but a 1-1 start with a season-opening loss to McNeese State has the Rams at 113^th now.
 
Senior guard Max Shulga and graduate wing Sean Bairstow headline a group of seven transfers into the program, earning Preseason All-Conference Second Team and Third Team nods, respectively. It has been the 6'10" sophomore forward Christian Fermin who has arguably impressed the most in the early going, however, averaging 6.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per contest.

HIGH VOLUME SCORER
One week into his sophomore season and Kenyon Giles has already staked his claim as one of the best pure scorers in the nation. The quick-twitch guard is averaging 17.7 points per game on 46.8% shooting, but that's just the beginning. The Chesapeake, Va. native's 22 made field goals rank as the fourth-most of any player in the nation, while his 47 field goal attempts rank fifth in the country.
 
SHUT DOWN DEFENSE
Radford's offense has been impressive this far in the season, but its defense has been even better. The Highlanders rank 62^nd out of 353 teams in the country with a 36.3% field goal percentage defense and 63^rd in the nation with a 24.7% three-point field goal percentage defense. When opponents miss their mark, Radford's rebounding has come up clutch too, ranking 72^nd with 30.67 defensive rebounds per contest.
 
COMMONWEALTH FOES
In two-plus years with Darris Nichols and his staff leading the way, the Highlanders have gone 8-9 in 17 games against programs located within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Radford has played 12 different teams in those 17 games: Emory & Henry, Virginia, Virginia Tech, William & Mary (twice), JMU, Longwood (four times), Hampton (twice), Bridgewater, Averett, VMI, VCU and Eastern Mennonite.

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.