
Men's Basketball falls to High Point in Big South opener
1/2/2025 9:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Radford men's basketball program fell in its Big South opener to rival High Point by a 76-58 margin in front of a national audience at Qubein Arena on Thursday evening.
The Highlanders started the game off strong and took its first and only lead of the game with a 5-0 edge just under two minutes into the contest. Radford was able to hold the High Point advantage to just two at 9-7 with 14:01 left in the first, but the Panthers closed the opening half on a 25-16 run to take a 36-23 lead into the half.
Radford played a much better second half, shooting 44.44 percent from the field (a nearly 10-percent improvement from the first), 42.86 percent from beyond the arc (another nearly 10-percent improvement) and a near-perfect 88.89 percent at the line (38.89 percent improvement), but by then the damage was already done as High Point cruised to the 76-58 victory.
THE FACTS
FINAL SCORE: Radford – 58, High Point - 76
LOCATION: Qubein Center (High Point, North Carolina)
RECORDS: RU 10-6 (0-1 Big South), HPU 13-3 (1-0 Big South)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- David Early led the Highlanders in scoring as he finished with 13 points on a 4-of-8 night from the field (.500). The Holden, West Virginia native also went 2-of-5 from three (.400) and 3-of-4 at the charity stripe (.750). To go with the point total, Early also added two rebounds, two assists and a steal. It was his fourth double-digit scoring game so far this season.
- Zion Walker was next with 11 points along with two boards and three helpers. The freshman tied his season-best in assists to go with setting his season and career-high with five made free throws. The Burlington, North Carolina native was extremely efficient with a near perfect mark of 3-of-4 from the floor (.750) and a perfect 5-of-5 at the line (1.000). It was also his fourth game so far this season with double digits in points.
- TJ NeSmith added eight points and five rebounds in a season-best 22 minutes of work.
- Jarvis Moss chipped in seven points, four rebounds and three assists.
- Josiah Harris added six points, four boards and a block.
- Brandon Maclin (six rebounds, a game-best two swipes) and Isaiah Gaines (three rebounds) each added five points apiece, respectively.
- Truth Harris rounded out the scoring attack with three points, one rebound and a steal.
- Radford posted 35 bench points, 24 points in the paint and 12 second chance points.
- The game featured just one lead change and one time that the contest was tied.
NEXT UP
The Highlanders return home for another conference clash as Radford welcomes Winthrop for a Saturday showdown on January 4. Tip is set for 4:30 PM ET inside the Dedmon Center and fans and supporters can purchase their tickets to the contest here.
GET IN THE GAME: FOLLOW RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL
Get in the game and get New River City made by staying up to date with the latest from Radford Men's Basketball through @RadfordHoops on X, @radfordhoops on Instagram, Radford Men's Basketball on Facebook and subscribe to the Radford Athletics YouTube channel.
The Highlanders started the game off strong and took its first and only lead of the game with a 5-0 edge just under two minutes into the contest. Radford was able to hold the High Point advantage to just two at 9-7 with 14:01 left in the first, but the Panthers closed the opening half on a 25-16 run to take a 36-23 lead into the half.
Radford played a much better second half, shooting 44.44 percent from the field (a nearly 10-percent improvement from the first), 42.86 percent from beyond the arc (another nearly 10-percent improvement) and a near-perfect 88.89 percent at the line (38.89 percent improvement), but by then the damage was already done as High Point cruised to the 76-58 victory.
THE FACTS
FINAL SCORE: Radford – 58, High Point - 76
LOCATION: Qubein Center (High Point, North Carolina)
RECORDS: RU 10-6 (0-1 Big South), HPU 13-3 (1-0 Big South)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- David Early led the Highlanders in scoring as he finished with 13 points on a 4-of-8 night from the field (.500). The Holden, West Virginia native also went 2-of-5 from three (.400) and 3-of-4 at the charity stripe (.750). To go with the point total, Early also added two rebounds, two assists and a steal. It was his fourth double-digit scoring game so far this season.
- Zion Walker was next with 11 points along with two boards and three helpers. The freshman tied his season-best in assists to go with setting his season and career-high with five made free throws. The Burlington, North Carolina native was extremely efficient with a near perfect mark of 3-of-4 from the floor (.750) and a perfect 5-of-5 at the line (1.000). It was also his fourth game so far this season with double digits in points.
- TJ NeSmith added eight points and five rebounds in a season-best 22 minutes of work.
- Jarvis Moss chipped in seven points, four rebounds and three assists.
- Josiah Harris added six points, four boards and a block.
- Brandon Maclin (six rebounds, a game-best two swipes) and Isaiah Gaines (three rebounds) each added five points apiece, respectively.
- Truth Harris rounded out the scoring attack with three points, one rebound and a steal.
- Radford posted 35 bench points, 24 points in the paint and 12 second chance points.
- The game featured just one lead change and one time that the contest was tied.
NEXT UP
The Highlanders return home for another conference clash as Radford welcomes Winthrop for a Saturday showdown on January 4. Tip is set for 4:30 PM ET inside the Dedmon Center and fans and supporters can purchase their tickets to the contest here.
GET IN THE GAME: FOLLOW RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL
Get in the game and get New River City made by staying up to date with the latest from Radford Men's Basketball through @RadfordHoops on X, @radfordhoops on Instagram, Radford Men's Basketball on Facebook and subscribe to the Radford Athletics YouTube channel.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Rad
HP
FG%
.396
.467
3FG%
.375
.419
FT%
.769
.700
RB
31
33
TO
13
8
STL
4
10
Game Leaders
Monday, August 03
Monday, August 03
Tuesday, July 28
Thursday, July 23






















