RADFORD, Va. – A series of comeback attempts came up just short as the Radford men's basketball team trailed by as many as 18 and ultimately fell, 74-68, to Gardner-Webb at the Dedmon Center on Wednesday night.
 
UPDATED RECORDS
Radford: 11-8 (1-3 Big South)
Gardner-Webb: 7-12 (2-2 Big South)
 
PIVOTAL MOMENT
Trailing 68-57 with just under six minutes to go, the Highlanders put together a 9-0 run to pull within two at 68-66. The Runnin' Bulldogs made their way down the court and dished it to DQ Nicholas, who rose up and hit a massive three-pointer. Radford's answer didn't connect and GWU iced the game with free throws.
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
Removing the game at #18 Clemson, the Highlanders have been a fantastic first half team that has played every opponent close through the halftime horn. That wasn't the case against Gardner-Webb.
 
After Bryan Antoine and Justin Archer scored to take a 4-3 lead in the early going, the Runnin' Bulldogs took complete control for more than seven minutes of game action. Using six layups and a trio of three-pointers, they went on a 21-4 run.
 
GWU grew its lead to as many as 18 points on a pair of occasions, including a 43-25 advantage with just 1:59 left before the break. The Highlanders got 11 points from Antoine, eight points from Archer and six points from DaQuan Smith, but went 0-for-6 from deep as a team and shot just 50.0% at the free throw line.
 
One last attempt to balloon the lead missed its mark as Gardner-Webb settled for a 43-28 lead, mounting a huge challenge for Radford to take on in the second period.
 
We'll never know what was said in the locker room, but whatever it was, worked. Radford came out firing in the second half, going on a 9-0 run that cut the deficit to six points.
 
The duo of Chandler Turner and Kenyon Giles ignited the Highlanders offense as they battled all the way back to make it a one-point game, 48-47, with 13:15 left to play.
 
Gardner-Webb refused to relinquish the lead however, as they mounted yet another run of their own to regain a double-digit lead, 63-53, by the under-8 media timeout. Even then, the Highlanders came back again and made it 68-66 with two minutes to go.
 
A three-pointer from DQ Nicholas proved to be the dagger as Radford's answer went wayward and GWU iced the game with free throws.
 
KEY STATS

• Bryan Antoine scored a team-high 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, his second 20+ point effort of the season
• Chandler Turner added 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 night from three while Justin Archer provided 10 points and five rebounds
• The Highlanders shot just 39.3% from the field in the first half, but caught fire to the tune of 53.3% in the second half
• Gardner-Webb earned a 42-to-12 advantage in bench points

 
OF NOTE

• DaQuan Smith, who left the Winthrop game at the end of the first overtime period due to an ankle injury, scored eight points and dished out a season high-tying four assists
• Radford has now dropped six straight games against Gardner-Webb inside the Dedmon Center dating back to the 2018-19 Big South Championship game

 
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH
USC Upstate 73, Longwood 71
High Point 86, Presbyterian 83
UNC Asheville at Winthrop (Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPNU)
 
UP NEXT
Radford stays home for another Big South showdown this Saturday, Jan. 20 when USC Upstate comes to town. The game is set for a 2 p.m. tip with all the action streaming live on ESPN+. Tickets are still available on RadfordTickets.com.
 
FOLLOW RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL
To follow the Radford men's basketball team throughout the season, visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordHoops on Twitter, 'radfordhoops' on Instagram or Radford Men's Basketball on Facebook.