ROCK HILL, S.C. – Chandler Turner dropped a career-high 33 points in a hard-fought 92-88 defeat to Winthrop in triple overtime on Saturday afternoon.
 
UPDATED RECORDS
Radford: 11-7 (1-2 Big South)
Winthrop: 13-6 (4-0 Big South)
 
PIVOTAL MOMENT
With the game tied at 75 and the ball in the Highlanders' hands, DaQuan Smith rose up and shot a three for a chance to win it. His attempt missed its mark, but much more importantly, the redshirt senior guard came down awkwardly on an opposing players' foot, causing what looked to be an ankle injury.
 
With Justin Archer and D'Auntray Pierce already fouled out of the game, Radford was forced to play the next two overtime periods without its leader and a proven shotmaker who already had one game-winning basket under his belt this season at West Virginia.
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
On the road against one of the top teams in the Big South for a second straight outing and the Highlanders came ready to play in both. 
 
Kenyon Giles got the scoring started with a step-back jumper two minutes into the action, igniting a 9-0 run to kick things off. Giles and graduate forward Chandler Turner combined to score 15 of Radford's first 18 points, setting the tone early.
 
The visitors grew their lead to as many as 15 in the first half, going ahead 20-5 before the Eagles called a timeout to regroup. It was then that the momentum began to shift.
 
After coming into the game ranked second in the entire nation in free throw attempts, Winthrop didn't earn a trip to the line until the 7:15 mark. Kelton Talford's pair of made free throws were the first of an 8-for-10 showing down the stretch.
 
Radford was whistled for 10 fouls in the first half alone, as the Eagles closed the period on a 19-7 run to bring the score to 31-30 at the break.
 
The spine-tingling battle continued throughout the second half as well, with each side going shot-for-shot. After going without a point in the first half, Justin Archer dropped in his first two attempts of the second half, but the Eagles would take their first lead of the game, 38-37, with 15:29 on the board.
 
The game stayed within three points or less for the next 12+ minutes, as the scored read 62-all at the final media timeout. Radford proceeded to go without a field goal for the next four minutes and 43 seconds, until Turner hit the biggest shot of the day.
 
With the clock under 10 seconds and the Highlanders trailing 67-64, Giles found Turner open on the wing and he drilled the game-tying three-pointer. Winthrop's final attempt fell short, and a great game went into overtime.
 
Attempts from Smith and Giles to win the game in the waning moments of the first two overtimes each missed their target and the Eagles finally managed to pull away in the third extra period.
 
With Radford leading 86-84 and 2:51 left on the clock, Talford scored six straight points to make it a two-possession game. The big man would hit one more free throw with 27 seconds left and Kasen Harrison added one more to ice it.
 
KEY STATS

• Turner easily surpassed his previous career high of 23 points, which he recorded at Bowling Green during the 2021-22 season
• The graduate transfer posted his third double-double of the season and sixth of his career thanks to 12 rebounds as well
• Giles scored 20 points for the second straight game and Smith finished with 18 points
• Radford was called for 31 fouls, leading to 38 free throw attempts for the Eagles. Winthrop was called for 16 fouls and the Highlanders shot just 15 free throws
• Winthrop's bench produced 47 points compared to eight for Radford

 
OF NOTE

• Radford did not attempt at free throw in the first half for the second consecutive game
• This marked the Highlanders' first overtime game since defeating Tarleton State, 72-70, in the first round of the CBI on March 19, 2023
• It turned into Radford's first multiple overtime game since winning, 97-91, at Campbell on January 19, 2021
• Radford is now 1-3 in overtime under Head Coach Darris Nichols

 
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH
Gardner-Webb 76, Presbyterian 60
Charleston Southern 77, USC Upstate 70
UNC Asheville 65, Longwood 61
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the comfy confines of the Dedmon Center when Gardner-Webb visits on Wednesday, Jan. 17. The game is set for a 7 p.m. tip and the first 250 Radford University students will receive a reversable bucket hat. All the action will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
FOLLOW RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL
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