CLINTON, S.C. – The Radford men's basketball team led by as many as 20 points in the first half, but watched the advantage evaporate in a 76-73 loss to Presbyterian at the Templeton Center on Saturday evening.
 
UPDATED RECORDS
Radford: 13-12 (3-7 Big South)
Presbyterian: 12-14 (4-7 Big South)
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
Tweaking their offensive system during the bye week, the Highlanders looked like a team renewed in the first half against Presbyterian.
 
After falling behind 7-4, Radford put together an 11-0 run to go ahead 15-7 and put the Blue Hose on their heels with 14:23 to go in the period. A Samage Teel jumper ended the hosts' scoreless drought, but the Highlanders didn't let up, extending their lead to 22-9 over the next two minutes.
 
Using much more motion in the half court, Radford's advantage grew all the way to 20 points, 39-19, with the duo of DaQuan Smith and Justin Archer carrying a lot of the load.
 
A pull-up three by Crosby James on Presbyterian's next trip down the court sparked something in his team, as PC closed the half on a 16-7 run and diminished the Highlander's lead all the way down to eight points, 46-38, by halftime.
 
That momentum carried over into the second half in a big way, to boot. Bryan Antoine knocked down a three from the top of the key in Radford's first possession, but the Blue Hose proceeded to go on a 14-0 run, turning a 49-38 Highlander lead into a 52-49 PC lead.
 
Shot after shot hit its mark for the Blue Hose as their lead reached a crescendo at 72-62 with 5:49 left in regulation. But the double-digit lead evaporated in what felt like an instant, as Chandler Turner and Antoine combined to hit three consecutive shots from beyond the arc.
 
Smith then answered a 1-for-2 trip to the free throw line with a tough jumper in the paint, tying the game at 73-all with just 1:44 to go. Although there was plenty of crunch time left for dramatics, the game-deciding shot came with 1:17 on the clock as Teel hit a go-ahead three to put PC ahead one final time.
 
KEY STATS

• Both teams shot 55% from the field, with Radford going 29-for-53 and Presbyterian going  28-for-51
• PC made twice as many free throws as Radford, 12-to-6
• The Blue Hose also earned a 40-to-30 advantage in paint points
• Josiah Harris pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds to lead the Highlanders to a 33-to-24 win in the rebounding battle
• Bryan Antoine and Marquis Barnett led all players with 18 points apiece

 
OF NOTE

• Kenyon Giles returned to the starting lineup after missing the Highlanders' last game with a groin injury
• DaQuan Smith also returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench against USC Upstate
• The Highlanders have lost three in a row and are now 3-9 on the road this season

 
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH
High Point 78, Gardner-Webb 62
Longwood 84, Winthrop 74
UNC Asheville 77, USC Upstate 64
 
UP NEXT
Radford returns home on Thursday, Feb. 15 for one of its biggest games of the season – an 8 p.m. showdown with the Winthrop Eagles on ESPNU. The nationally televised contest will feature a belt bag giveaway for the first 500 students in attendance, as well as a BOGO ticket deal with the code 'ESPNU' at 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.