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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
DelJones
Ethan Neal
80
Winner Winthrop Win 17-8,9-1 Big South
78
Radford Rad 13-12,6-4 Big South
Winner
Winthrop Win
17-8,9-1 Big South
80
Final
78
Radford Rad
13-12,6-4 Big South
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Winthrop Win 42 38 80
Radford Rad 36 42 78

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Highlanders Storm Back, Fall Just Short to Winthrop

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford men's basketball program fell behind early but battled all the way back to take a lead late before ultimately falling in the final seconds to Winthrop in an 80-78 finish.
 
KEY STATS
  • Del Jones (21 points) and Dennis Parker Jr. (20 points) combined for half of Radford's scoring on the night, with 28 of those points coming in the second half.
  • Jaylon Johnson colored in the stat sheet with six assists and a trio of steals.
  • Nearly every scoring margin was similar between the two squads, but Radford was able to earn an 11-6 advantage in second chance points.
  • Radford has lost by one possession twice in conference play, both in games against Winthrop.
 
PLAY BY PLAY
After a slow start out the gates, both teams would go shot for shot up to the first media break. Parker Jr., Johnson and Walls all landed threes early to keep the game tied at 11-all. A 5-0 run provided Radford with its first lead thanks to a layup and three from Mari Jordan, but a 10-3 run by the Eagles vaulted the visitors ahead 28-24 with 7:20 in the half.
 
The Eagles threatened to run away with things before halftime, leading by as much as 10, but Radford pulled back into it as Tyson Brown provided five late points. A half court heave by Jones seemed to go in for Radford, but it was waved off as Winthrop would take a 42-36 lead into the break.
 
Five straight free throws and a three, all from Jones, began half two as Radford quickly pulled back within a possession. A 7-0 run by the Eagles stifled that rally keeping Winthrop ahead by a solid margin until the 13-minute mark. Louie Jordan scored four straight while Jones sunk a jumper to make it just a 63-59 Winthrop lead.
 
Trailing 69-61 with 9:24 to play, Radford opened their biggest run of the night. Parker Jr. sunk a three followed by four straight made shots from Johnson, Jones, Parker Jr. again and Brennan Rigsby Jr. The 13-2 run by Radford vaulted Radford back ahead for the first time since the early minutes of the game at 72-69.
 
With under five to play, Winthrop clawed back at the free throw line to reclaim a slim lead. Radford's offense would unfortunately run cold hitting just one shot from the floor over the final five minutes. That make came from Johnson, which tied the game up at 78-78 with a minute to go. The Eagles held the final possession, and just as they had earlier this season, had the heartbreaker shot right before the game clock ran out to sneak out of Dedmon with an 80-78 win.
 
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH
  • UNC Asheville survived a second half rally from USC Upstate to defend their home court 76-67.
  • Longwood rolled in a road win at Gardner-Webb, 86-66 shooting 60% overall on the night.
  • Radford's next opponent High Point took care of business in an 80-55 dispatch of Charleston Southern.
 
UP NEXT
Radford will look to bounce back in their next Big South battle as they go back on the road to take on High Point this upcoming Saturday, February 7th. Action is set to tip 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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