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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
DennisParker
Ethan Neal
73
Radford Rad 15-14,8-6 Big South
74
Winner UNC Asheville AVL 13-15,7-7 Big South
Radford Rad
15-14,8-6 Big South
73
Final
74
UNC Asheville AVL
13-15,7-7 Big South
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Radford Rad 33 33 7 73
UNC Asheville AVL 32 34 8 74

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Basketball Edged in Overtime Thriller at UNC Asheville

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Radford and UNC Asheville were locked in a back-and-forth, intense late-season Big South battle Saturday afternoon needing overtime before falling in a tight 74-73 final to the Bulldogs.
 
KEY STATS
  • Del Jones and Dennis Parker Jr. led Radford's offense, scoring 19 points each with Parker Jr. hitting a trio of threes.
  • Tyson Brown locked down the boards, pulling down 12 rebounds for his second straight game with 10+ rebounds.
  • Each team had just a few shots in overtime with the Bulldogs hitting four of their six attempts with Radford going two-of-five.
  • UNC Asheville was dominant in the paint, doubling up Radford 48-20.
 
PLAY BY PLAY
It was a slow start for both offenses in Saturday's tilt, but UNC Asheville grabbed the early edge 9-2 four minutes in. Jones and Parker Jr. got Radford rolling but another extended scoreless stretch saw the Bulldogs pull ahead 15-8. Warren Keel Jr. provided a big icebreaker for the Highlanders, and a Frederik Erichsen and-one pulled the team back within two possessions.
 
Erichsen kept firing with another make at the 9:35 mark. After a pair of Walls's three-pointers a couple minutes later, the Highlanders kept pace looking for their first lead tying the game 23-all. Brennan Rigsby Jr. got Radford over that hump and a Parker Jr. triple had Radford ahead 33-30 with two minutes in the half.
 
Radford would hold their lead the rest of the half going into the locker room with a slim 33-32 advantage. Out of the break Rigsby Jr. kept his hot shooting rolling with a three. UNC Asheville scored seven straight, though, to take their first lead of the back half of the game. The Highlanders got answers from Jones and Louie Jordan from deep as the game stayed tied at 45-45 with 13:31 to go.
 
Parker Jr. and Jones provided five points as the two squads began trading shots. Down the stretch it was Parker Jr. who primarily came alive, scoring eight straight points. A Walls tip-in made it 61-56 Radford with five minutes to go. In those final five minutes Radford had no floor makes only scoring five points from the free throw line. That allowed the Bulldogs to rally back and hit a jumper with seconds remaining that sent the game to overtime.
 
In their second overtime game this season, the Highlanders were forced to play from behind as the Bulldogs were efficient hitting nearly ever shot they took in the extra period. Rigsby Jr. and Jones had big makes, but neither team scored over the final 90 seconds as UNC Asheville was able to hang on in the eventual 74-73 final.
 
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH
  • In a meeting atop the conference standings, High Point came out on top 89-87 to earn sole possession of first place.
  • Longwood was locked in another overtime battle, this time at Charleston Southern, and came out with another win 107-96.
  • USC Upstate defended their home court for an upset victory over Presbyterian 76-74.
 
UP NEXT
The final week of the regular season has arrived for the Highlanders and it begins at the Dedmon Center this upcoming Wednesday, February 26th against USC Upstate. Action tips at 7:00 p.m. 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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