No. 2 Radford Defeats No. 3 Winthrop, Will Play for Big South Championship
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Trailing 46-50 with 8:27 to go in regulation, the Radford men's basketball team ended the game on a 15-2 run while holding Winthrop without a single field goal to secure a 61-52 victory in the Big South Championship semifinals and advance to the title game.
BOX SCORE
POSTGAME REACTION
A tough layup by redshirt freshman Carlik Jones got the run going, bringing the Highlanders within two points with 7:16 remaining. He, junior forward Ed Polite Jr., sophomore guard Travis Fields Jr. and senior guard Christian Bradford each played their part in scoring for Radford down the stretch, but defense was key late, just like it was all game long.
Radford shot only 34.0-percent (17-for-50) in the contest, but its defense held the prolific offense of Winthrop to only 39.6-percent (19-for-48). The Highlanders have defied the odds, winning back-to-back games in this tournament while being out-shot by its opponent.
With the win, the Highlanders move to 21-12 and clinch an appearance in the Big South Championship finals for the first time since 2009.
The Eagles got off to a fast start, knocking down each of their first six shot attempts. The Highlanders kept it close, relying on its big men Randy Phillips and Devonnte Holland to go to work in the low post.
Driving to the basket and drawing a foul with 13:47 to go in the first half, Polite Jr. hit one of two free throw attempts to begin a game-changing run. Radford got hot quick, making seven of eight shots to go on a 14-0 run and jump out to a 24-15 lead with just over 10 minutes left.
While the Highlanders held Winthrop scoreless from 14:07 to 8:57, it was Radford who had the longest scoring drought of the period. A streak of 13 straight misses kept the team without a field goal for eight minutes.
The Eagles took advantage, jumping out to a 31-30 lead with 3:24 on the clock. Finally, Polite Jr. got to the rim for a slam and junior guard Caleb Tanner hit his first three in the final minute. Free throws were also crucial in keeping the Highlanders in it and they took a 37-34 lead into the locker room despite shooting 38-percent (11-for-29).
The second half didn't bring better fortune on the offensive end, yet the Highlanders battled through it like they've done all season. More than eight minutes ticked off the clock without a field goal going in for Radford.
Polite Jr. finally created the chance Radford needed to end the scoring drought, driving the lane and kicking the ball out to Fields Jr. for a wide open three at the 11:17 mark. Then Jones scored on another of his trademark dribble-drives and the Highlanders were back in business, down by just one.
From that point on, the Eagles hit only two shots and two free throws as Radford took over the game. The Highlanders kept driving the ball and the Eagles kept fouling, allowing them to go 8-for-11 from the free throw line late in the game and 21-for-26 overall.
Five free throws in the final minute of the game sealed the victory.
Jones led all scorers with 16 points and collected four of Radford's eight assists on the night. His biggest contribution, however, may have been his career-high six steals, the most a Highlander has had in a single game this season. Polite Jr. chipped in 13 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals while Fields Jr. made it three Highlanders in double-figures with 11 points.
Star Winthrop forward Xavier Cooks also went for 13 points and nine rebounds, but the Australia native fouled out with 56 seconds to go. Guard Adam Pickett also had 13 points for the Eagles.