RADFORD, Va. – The Highlanders are going international, playing a pair of games at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico during Thanksgiving week.
 
SETTING THE STAGE (GAME ONE)
Opponent: Morgan State Bears
Date/Time: Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 12:30 p.m.
Location: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
 
SETTING THE STAGE (GAME TWO)
Opponent: One of Northern Colorado/Chicago State
Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 22 at either 12:30 or 3 p.m.
Location: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya

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SERIES HISTORY VS. MORGAN STATE
Radford and Morgan State have met only four times in school history, with the Highlanders winning all four times. It has been since 1992 that they've gone head-to-head, however.
 
SCOUTING THE MSU BEARS
Morgan State is off to a 2-3 start to the 2023-24 season with both wins coming against non-Division I opponents. Their three losses have come against stiff competition, however, in the form of #12 Arizona, Fresno State and BYU.
 
The Bears were picked to finish fourth in the MEAC Preseason Poll and the duo of redshirt junior guard Kamron Hobbs and redshirt junior forward Will Thomas were named to the preseason All-MEAC second team.
 
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SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTHERN COLORADO
Radford and Northern Colorado have never met.
 
SCOUTING THE UNC BEARS
Similarly to how Morgan State's season has begun, the UNC Bears are 2-2 with both wins coming against non-Division I competition. That means a Tuesday afternoon showdown with Chicago State, which determines Radford's next opponent, will be a big early-season opportunity to prove itself.

Northern Colorado finished T-8^th in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll and 9^th in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Media Poll, so defying expectations will be a major theme for Head Coach Steve Smiley and company. The trio of Dejour Reaves (15.0 ppg), Brock Wisne (14.5 ppg) and Saint Thomas (13.8 ppg & 11.8 rpg) will have something to say in the matter.
 
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SERIES HISTORY VS. CHICAGO STATE
Radford and Chicago State have never met.
 
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Chicago State, the only independent program remaining in Division I, has begun the 2023-24 season with a 1-4 record, but their lone win came over a solid Southern Indiana squad that was part of the College Basketball Invitational field alongside Radford a season ago.
 
Head Coach Gerald Gillian and his staff have the Cougars headed in the right direction, pulling off recruiting victories that elevated the overall talent level of the program by leaps and bounds. For example, junior guard Wesley Cardet Jr. joined the team after being ranked as the 60^th-best player in the nation coming out of high school.
 
Even still, offensive struggles have plagued Chicago State thus far as they only average 59.8 points per game and are being outscored by an average of 9.8 points per contest.
 
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TOURNAMENT BRACKET


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.