RADFORD, Va. – Radford's highly anticipated New River City game is finally here! The Highlanders take on Elon this Sunday – a day full of exciting festivities to celebrate the relationship between Radford University and the incredible city it resides in.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Opponent: Elon Phoenix (5-3, 0-0 CAA)
Date/Time: Sunday, Dec. 3 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Radford, Va. (Carilion Clinic Court at the Dedmon Center)

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

SERIES HISTORY
In a series that has featured 14 meetings between 1997 and 2022, Radford owns a 9-5 record against Elon.
 
The Highlanders earned a 69-53 victory over the Phoenix in Elon last season, led by a 17-point, 6-assist performance in a homecoming for Josiah Jeffers. Radford out-scored Elon, 39-to-24, in the second half while holding the hosts to just 31.7% shooting.
 
These two programs last played inside the Dedmon Center on Dec. 10, 2016, when Radford protected its home floor to the tune of a 68-56 win. Ed Polite, Jr. had a monster 14-point, 15-rebound double-double while Justin Cousin, another Burlington, N.C. native, had 14 points as well.
 
SCOUTING THE PHOENIX
Just one season removed from going 8-24, the Elon Phoenix are off to a roaring start in 2023-24, going 5-3 in their first eight chances. That includes wins over ETSU, IUPUI, Holy Cross, and Big South foe, Presbyterian.
 
That early success has been the result of a complete team effort – four different players average double-digit points per game and the Phoenix rank 18^th in the nation in bench points per game. In fact, all 14 players who have seen the floor this season are averaging at least 1.0 points per game, a number that speaks to just how much Head Coach Billy Taylor has utilized his program's depth.
 
When the CAA Preseason Poll tabbed Elon for a 10^th place finish this season, it may have underestimated the progress they'd make this year.
 
TRAY'S BLOCK PARTY
D'Auntray Pierce swatted five shots against Old Dominion on Wednesday night. He's the first Highlander to record 4+ blocks in a single game since Mawdo Sallah did it against Davis & Elkins on Nov. 6, 2018. Tyrone Travis owns the program single-game record with seven blocks, which he did twice in 1992 and 1994.
 
With 13 total blocks through nine games this season, Pierce has easily passed his career high of seven from the 2022-23 season. The Western Wyoming Community College product ranks 47^th in the nation in total blocks this year as of Thursday, Nov. 30^th. 
 
QUAN'S CAREER MILESTONE
Redshirt senior guard DaQuan Smith joined the 1,000-pointer scorers club, eclipsing the mark with an 11-point effort at VCU on Nov. 15, 2023. The Holly Springs, Miss. native scored his first 458 career points in four seasons at Murray State, but scored 502 points during the 2022-23 season alone, his first  year at Radford. 
 
With a repeat performance, Smith could join the list of 33 Highlanders to score 1,000 or more career points during their career as a Highlander. Doug Day currently leads the program with 2,027 points between 1989 and 1993.
 
Smith will be honored prior to the game against Elon on Sunday.
 
BURLINGTON BOYS
While Elon University is technically located in Elon, N.C., the average distance of a trip to Burlington, N.C. is just three miles. That means when Radford's TJ NeSmith plays against the Phoenix on Sunday, it'll be like playing against his hometown team.
 
He won't be the first Highlander to feel that way, however. Far from it. Radford has had a pipeline of Burlington natives join the program, a pipeline that has been unbroken for the last 10 years.
 
Justin Cousin came to Radford from Burlington, N.C. for the 2013-14 season and played until 2017-18 when he handed the reigns to another native of the city, Josiah Jeffers, who began playing for Radford in 2018-19. He graduated and departed following the 2022-23 season, leaving NeSmith as the next man up.

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.