Box Score
RADFORD, Va. – R.J. Price scored a career-high and game-high 30 points, including 10-10 free throws, to lead Radford to an 82-72 Big South Conference men's basketball victory against Longwood University on Wednesday night at the Dedmon Center in Radford. Junior captain
Tristan Carey|Colonial Beach led the Lancers (3-15, 0-4 Big South) with 23 points in the North Division contest. The Highlanders (8-10, 2-2 Big South) led 41-31 at halftime and secured the outcome with 13-15 free throws over the final 8:44, including 6-6 by Price, who also made two late three-point field goals. Longwood will play on the road at league South Division opponent UNC Asheville on Saturday, January 19, in Asheville, North Carolina at 4:30 p.m.
Longwood scored the first seven points of the game to lead 7-0 at 17:48, including a three-pointer from Carey. Following a Radford timeout, the Highlanders scored eight unanswered points en route to an 18-2 run to lead 18-9 at 12:29, getting points from six different players. A three-pointer by freshman
Lucas Woodhouse|Greenlawn, New York made it 18-12 at 11:44, but RU extended its lead to 34-20 at 6:33 after a 16-6 run that Price closed with a layup and three-pointer. The Lancers outscored the hosts 11-7 over the final 5:34 to close the margin to 41-31 at the intermission, getting five late points from junior
Mark Parker|Clayton, North Carolina, off the bench. Price had 11 first-half points, and Javonte Green had 10 points at the break, while Carey scored nine first-half points.
Radford scored the first basket of the second half to lead 43-31 at 17:59, before Carey scored 11-straight points in just 1:58 to pull Longwood within 43-42 at 15:35. Carey's outburst included three three-pointers along with a steal and slam dunk. After a Highlanders' layup from Ya Ya Anderson, Carey connected on his fourth three-pointer in the second half to tie the game at 45-45 with 14:19 remaining, and it was 47-47 at 13:34 after a layup by Woodhouse. It was still a two-point game at 56-54, RU, with 9:45 on the clock following a layup from redshirt-sophomore
Jeylani Dublin|Brooklyn, New York, but the hosts used a 14-6 run that included the two three-pointers by Price and one from Anderson to lead 70-60 at 3:58. RU scored 10 of its final 12 points at the free throw line, as the Lancers only managed to get within six points on two occasions over the final 1:44.
"Another close, hard-fought game tonight," said 10th-year head coach Mike Gillian. "We made a few mistakes in the first half that put us in a 10-point halftime hole. We came out playing with some resiliency to start, and throughout, the second half and were able to get the game back to even. We've been in these close, end of game situations a few times now - we have to keep working to break through and come out on top."
The physical contest between in-state rivals witnessed an unfortunate moment with 5:30 remaining when freshman
Michael Kessens|Nyon, Switzerland and RU's Kion Brown got tangled up under the LU basket and each was assessed a technical foul, and while the technical fouls were off-setting, two Lancers were also ejected from the game for leaving the bench area while Kessens and Brown were being separated.
Carey led Longwood with his 23 points, making 5-10 three-pointers, adding five rebounds and three steals. Unfortunately, he did not score over the final 14-plus minutes while managing just two shot attempts, including a layup attempt at 4:34 that was blocked and appeared to be a goal-tend. Woodhouse added career highs of 12 points and 10 assists, the latter a game-high, for his first collegiate double-double for the Lancers. Kessens finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. LU shot 49.1% (27-55) from the field, including 53.8% (14-26) in the second half, 41.2% (7-17) on three-pointers, and 73.3% (11-15) at the free throw line.
Price led Radford with his career-high and game-high 30 points, making 10-10 free throws, adding five assists. Green had 13 points and a career-high and game-high 13 rebounds for his own double-double, adding five steals for the Highlanders. Anderson finished with 12 points off the bench. RU shot 47.5% (28-59) from the field, including 37.5% (6-16) on three-pointers, and 87.0% (20-23) at the line.
Longwood and Radford were meeting for the 17th time in the sport, and the Highlanders lead the series, 13-4, including 9-0 at Radford. The two teams will meet again next month on February 16 at Willett Hall during the Longwood men's basketball
Reunion Day that will include a Jerome Kersey bobblehead giveaway.
Followng the UNC Asheville game on Saturday, Longwood will play its third consecutive Big South road game at North Division and nearby in-state rival Liberty University on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the Vines Center in Lynchburg at 7 p.m.
Radford will play at South Division opponent Gardner-Webb on Saturday at 7 p.m.
