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.
 
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