ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Radford men's basketball couldn't slow down UNC Asheville's high-powered offense as the Bulldogs shot nearly 60.0% from the field and the Highlanders fell, 81-69, at Kimmel Arena on Wednesday night.
 
UPDATED RECORDS
Radford: 12-9 (2-4 Big South)
UNC Asheville: 13-8 (5-1 Big South)
 
PIVOTAL MOMENT
Attempting to erase a 15-point deficit and come all the way back to pull within two, the Highlanders missed their opportunity and the Bulldogs took advantage. 
 
A big run by Radford made it 64-60, but a driving layup went astray and UNC Asheville immediately struck back with a 7-2 run to pull the game out of reach.
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
Head Coach Darris Nichols had his team ready to play in hostile territory, as the Highlanders began the night's contest strong. After UNC Asheville scored the first points of the night, Radford went on a 7-1 run to take its first lead.
 
A pair of three-pointers from DaQuan Smith and Truth Harris, and a driving layup by Kenyon Giles, then gave the visitors an 8-0 run to turn a 13-all tie into a 21-13 advantage with 12:25 to play in the half.
 
The Bulldogs regrouped and flipped the momentum almost immediately, however, going on a 10-0 run of their own to take a 23-21 lead. They added onto Radford's deficit from there, mounting an 11-2 run to make it 42-33 with just over a minute to go before halftime.
 
A clutch three in transition from Bryan Antoine pulled the Highlanders a bit closer, as UNC Asheville took a 42-36 lead into the locker room.
 
It was far from an ideal start to the second half as well, as UNC Asheville scored nine of the first 12 points in the period before Coach Nichols called a timeout to talk with his squad. While the Highlanders seemed to steady themselves some, the Bulldogs piled on and their lead ballooned to 59-44 with 13:49 on the clock.
 
With Smith catching fire from deep and a number of freebies on the charity stripe, Radford battled back thanks to a 12-2 run that got the team right back in the game, 61-56, right around the 10-minute mark.
 
As the game neared crunch time, the Highlanders had a chance to cut the deficit all the way down to just two points, but the shot went astray, and the Bulldogs scored the next nine points to pull the game farther out of reach.
 
The Highlanders would struggle to get shots to fall down the stretch as UNC Asheville held on to win the game.
 
KEY STATS

• DaQuan Smith led Radford in scoring for the ninth time this season, scoring 15 points on a 4-for-7 night from deep
• Bryan Antoine added 12 points and dished out a career-high five assists
• Radford shot 46.3% from the field, but UNC Asheville was scorching hot and shot 59.6% on the other end
• The Highlanders won the rebounding battle, 25-to-24

 
OF NOTE

• Chandler Turner was unavailable to play due to illness. It was his first game missed this season.
• In 81 all-time meetings with UNC Asheville, Radford now owns a 39-42 record.
• The Bulldogs experienced a statistical anomaly early in the game, failing to record a single defensive rebound until the 11:42 mark of the first half.
• Radford is now 0-5 this season when trailing at halftime

 
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH
Winthrop 78, Charleston Southern 59
High Point 78, USC Upstate 68
Gardner-Webb 76, Longwood 64
 
UP NEXT
It's a huge game day for Highlander Hoops as the men's and women's teams both celebrate Alumni Weekend in the Dedmon Center. This Saturday, Jan. 27, women's basketball takes on Presbyterian at 2:30 p.m. while men's basketball hosts the Blue Hose at 4:30 p.m.
 
Radford University is hosting a Volunteer Summit from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on campus. For more information click here. Radford Athletics will then host a Radford Basketball alumni social on the back court inside Dedmon beginning at 3:30 p.m.
 
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.