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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
70
Tarleton St. TARLETON 17-17
72
Winner Radford RADFORD 20-14
Tarleton St. TARLETON
17-17
70
Final
72
Radford RADFORD
20-14
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Tarleton St. TARLETON 37 27 6 70
Radford RADFORD 33 31 8 72
Sal Koureissi

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Highlanders Clinch 20-Win Season, Advance to CBI Quarters With Overtime Win Over Tarleton

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Souleymane Koureissi backed his way into the post and rose above his defender to knock down the game-winning hook shot with 36 seconds to go in overtime, lifting the Radford men's basketball team to a 72-70 victory over Tarleton State in the first round of the CBI on Sunday afternoon.
 
The 10th-ranked Highlanders advance to the tournament quarterfinals where they'll meet the second-ranked San Jose State Spartans on Monday. The win also clinches the program's 12th 20-win season in history as Radford improves to 20-14 overall on the year.
 
Trailing by as many as 12 in the second half, Radford showed incredible heart and effort down the stretch, erasing the deficit, and forcing overtime for the very first time in the 2022-23 campaign.
 
Only Koureissi and DaQuan Smith scored in the extra period, but stout defense made sure that was enough as the Texans (17-17 record) put up just six points over the final five minutes. 
 
Smith led the Highlanders with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including a trio of three-pointers. Orlando native Shaquan Jules was absolutely crucial thanks to his energy-giving slams as the big man finished with 18 points and six rebounds without missing a shot on eight attempts.
 
Bryan Antoine gave Radford a third double-digit scorer with 13 points and Josiah Jeffers matched his career high with eight assists.
 
The Highlanders found themselves in a hole quickly, as the Texans responded to Smith's game-opening three-pointer with an 11-3 run. Their lead grew to as many as 10 points (28-18) with 5:50 to go in the first stanza, but the Highlanders cut it to four (37-33) before halftime.
 
Entering the game averaging 15.5 points and 5.8 rebounds this year, Tarleton's Freddy Hicks was a one-man wrecking crew. He put up 17 points and six rebounds in the first half alone and ended the contest with a monster 30-point, 11-rebound double-double.
 
KEY STATS
  • The Highlanders tallied 16 assists on 29 made field goals
  • Radford out-scored the Texans in the paint, 36-to-24
  • Tarleton State racked up 22 points off turnovers compared to just 11 for Radford
  • The Highlanders never led by more than four points
 
HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME  
UP NEXT
Radford advances to the CBI Quarterfinals where they will take on the No. 2 San Jose State Spartans on Monday, March 20 at 4:30 pm. The game will once again be streamed live on FloHoops.
 
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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