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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
JaylonJohnson
Ethan Neal
90
VMI VMI 5-8,0-0 SoCon
97
Winner Radford Rad 6-8,0-0 Big South
VMI VMI
5-8,0-0 SoCon
90
Final
97
Radford Rad
6-8,0-0 Big South
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
VMI VMI 43 47 90
Radford Rad 44 53 97

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Basketball Uses Impressive Shooting to Outlast VMI 97-90

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford men's basketball program used an impressive shooting performance from all angles to hold on in a high scoring victory over VMI Sunday afternoon, 97-90.
 
KEY STATS
  • The Highlanders shattered their previous season high for free throws in a game, earning 40 trips and connecting 32 times also good for a season best 80% shooting clip.
  • Dennis Parker Jr. led the scoring with 26 points on another efficient 8-for-13 shooting, Jaylon Johnson also set his new Radford high for points with 23.
  • Tyson Brown had his strongest double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and 14 rebounds thanks in part to a clutch flurry of free throws late.
  • Del Jones added another 15-point showing, boosting his point total with 10 trips to the charity stripe and connecting nine times.
  • 84 of Radford's 97 points came from the starting five, with Mari Jordan leading the bench's efforts with eight points.
 
PLAY BY PLAY
Sunday afternoon marked a high-scoring affair for both squads as baskets came quickly from the start. Jones got the game going for Radford while Parker Jr. started what would be a long day at the free throw line with two makes. Five straight points from Johnson kept Radford rolling, but it was VMI who paced ahead early with a 13-9 lead.
 
M. Jordan would come off the bench for some quick layups while Brown hit his first shot of the game 10 minutes in to pull Radford to down just one 23-22. It wasn't until there were four minutes left in the first half before Radford claimed their first lead since the opening seconds. After a follow-up layup by Brown, Johnson sunk back-to-back threes that flipped the lead back to Radford.
 
Another three from Johnson and a pair of free throws by Jones closed the half for Radford who battled to hold a slim 44-43 lead. VMI would briefly retake a 46-44 lead to start the second half, but it was all Radford from there as the team went on a 10-2 run forcing a Keydets timeout.
 
Threes would pull VMI right back into it, a theme for the game, as neither team was able to ever fully pull away. A three by Frederik Erichsen cut the Keydets run, but another three minute scoring drought made it just 60-58 Radford with 12:27 to play. Two threes from Parker Jr. broke the ice, but Radford would need to rely on the free throw line for an extended stretch over the final 10 minutes.
 
From the 9-minute mark to the 1-minute mark, Radford had just one made shot from the field coming from Jones. VMI sent Radford to the free throw line often, where the Highlanders held onto their lead the whole way. Four of those makes came in a row thanks to a clutch showing from Brown, allowing Radford to lead 89-84 with 1:37 to play.
 
Turnovers from VMI over the final minute proved costly, as a layup from Parker Jr. and Brown with under a minute to play helped put things away. Closing the game with another four straight made free throws from Johnson and Jones, Radford outlasted VMI to take the 97-90 win and a new lead in the all-time series 23-22.
 
UP NEXT
Radford will break for the holidays this week before returning home next weekend for their final tune up before Big South play. On Sunday, December 28th, Radford hosts Shenandoah for a 2:30 p.m. tip on ESPN+.

STAY SOCIAL WITH RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL
For all the latest on Radford Men's Basketball, be sure to follow the team on X (@RadfordHoops), Instagram (@radfordhoops), and "like" the team's official Facebook Page (Radford Men's Basketball).
 
#RiseAndDefend
 
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