RADFORD 97, VMI 90
Highlighted by five players in double figures including three double-doubles, Radford claimed its fourth Big South regular season title with a 97-90 victory over VMI in men’s basketball action Saturday evening at Cameron Hall in front of 4,744 fans.  The win was the Highlanders’ nation-leading ninth straight on the road and eighth overall as they improve to 17-10 overall and 14-2 in the league.  VMI drops its third consecutive falling to 20-7 and 11-5.

By locking up the No. 1 seed, Radford has secured home court throughout the 2009 Advance Auto Parts Big South Conference Tournament.  Kenny Thomas led Radford with a season-high 28 points on 10-of-16 from the floor, including three buckets from deep.  Art Parakhouski recorded his 14th double-double of the year with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Amir Johnson and Joey Lynch-Flohr also contributed 15 points and 14 boards each.  Sophomore Chris McEachin also scored in double figures for RU with 11 points in 23 minutes off the bench.

After its impressive shooting performance in the first half, Radford drilled 63.3 percent of its attempts after intermission to finish with a season-high 61.3 percent (38-62) clip.  The Keydets connected on 16 three-pointers, but shot just 35.3 percent (30-of-85) from the field in a game they never led.  To go with their impressive shooting totals, the Highlanders set a school record for rebounds and rebounding margin with a 65-26 differential.  Radford’s total was also just one off a new Cameron Hall record.  Radford, which torched the nets for 59.4 percent (19-32) in the opening stanza, used a 16-2 run capped off by Parakhouski’s fourth two-handed jam of the period to grab a 28-12 advantage.  The Highlanders stretched their lead to as many as 17 (37-20) on a Johnson trey from the top of the key, but VMI closed the half on a 13-5 streak to cut the deficit to 47-40 at the break.

Along with holding VMI to just 13-of-41 (31.7 percent) from the field in the first 20 minutes, Radford dominated the glass, 32-12, with nine of the rebounds coming from the 5-9 Johnson.  VMI made it a two-point contest on separate occasions midway through the second half, but Radford responded with a 13-3 flurry highlighted by back-to-back treys from Thomas to put the game out of reach.  Chavis Holmes, playing in the final regular season home game of his career, led four Keydets in double digits with a game-high 29 points, including six from behind the arc.

With the triumph, Radford is guaranteed a postseason NIT berth.  Radford is the first team in Big South history to win the regular-season title after finishing seventh the previous year.  The Highlanders set a new school record for Conference wins in a campaign, while their 9-0 road mark in Big South play is a League record.  The last time Radford won the regular-season title was in 2000-01, which was also the last time it won 17 games in a season.  The Highlanders are tied with UConn for the longest road streak in the country.

Radford will begin a two-game homestand to conclude the regular season with a 7:00pm contest against High Point Wednesday evening at the Dedmon Center.  VMI visits Liberty Tuesday night at 7:00pm.

UNC ASHEVILLE 74, COASTAL CAROLINA 63
Reid Augst and Matt Dickey scored 21 points each to lead UNC Asheville to a 74-63 Big South Conference victory over Coastal Carolina Saturday evening at Justice Center.  The victory clinched a quarterfinal home game for the Bulldogs (14-14, 10-7 Big South) in the upcoming Advance Auto Parts Big South Championship.  UNC Asheville will be either the third or fourth seed in the tournament that begins with quarterfinal games on March 3.

The Chanticleers (11-17, 5-11 Big South) were led by the sensational play of forward Joseph Harris with 32 points and 12 rebounds.  John Williams added 18 points for the Bulldogs.  He blocked a career-high seven shots.  J.P. Primm dished out seven assists.  Coastal Carolina had Mario Edwards with 11 points and eight rebounds.  Logan Johnson dished out eight assists.

The Bulldogs took control of the game in the first half when they went on a 24-0 run, holding the Chanticleers scoreless for more than nine minutes, to build a 33-11 lead.  Harris scored at the 12:34 mark to give CCU an 11-9 lead before Asheville scored the next 24 points.  The Chanticleers went 0-for-12 from the field, 0-for-2 from the free throw line and committed five turnovers.  Dickey had nine points during the run for the Bulldogs.  Edwards finally ended the drought by hitting a three-pointer at the 3:13 mark to make the score 33-14.  Harris scored six points in the final two minutes of the half to bring the Chanticleers within 36-23 at halftime.

The Bulldogs started strong in the second half and out-scored the visitors 20-10 in the first eight minutes to build a 56-33 lead on a lay-up from Primm at the 12:38 mark.  Dickey was instrumental once again in the run with eight points.  Coastal Carolina would not go away quietly.  Using a full-court press and get baskets from Harris, the Chanticleers went on a 15-0 run to get back in the game as they cut the lead to 56-48 at 7:57.  Harris scored 11 of the 15 points and his three-point play on a steal got the lead to eight.  The Chants continued to carve into the lead and got to 63-60 on a Steven Sexton three-pointer with 3:40 remaining.  Harris had a chance to get CCU closer on the next possession but his lay-up just rimmed out.

Asheville put the game away with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes.  Augst began the run with a jumper to pad the lead to 65-60 and his three-point play made it 70-60.  Dickey finished the run with a dunk at 1:06 to make it 72-60.

The Bulldogs finish the regular season at Presbyterian next Saturday night.  Coastal Carolina plays at Charleston Southern Thursday night at 7:00pm.

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 57, PRESBYTERIAN 52
Charleston Southern faced off with the Presbyterian Blue Hose in Big South action Saturday, taking a 57-52 victory at the CSU Field House.  The Bucs were part of a close one, unable to extend their lead past seven, but holding on for the five point victory.  With the win, CSU improved to 8-18 with a 3-12 mark in the Big South, while Presbyterian dropped to 11-16 and 8-8 in the Conference.

The Bucs put three in double-figures, including 12 from both Omar Carter and Jamarco Warren.  Giedrius Knysas also chipped in with 10 points and 7 boards.  For Presbyterian, Al’Lonzo Coleman had 16 points and 8 rebounds.

Knysas had the Bucs on the board first, after a tip-in on their first possession.  The Blue Hose responded with seven unanswered points to take a five point lead with 17:46 on the clock.  Presbyterian went up by as many as 7, before CSU went on a 12-2 run, capped off by an Carter three.  The lead was traded early on, but a JT Knight foul shot had the score knotted at 19 apiece with 8:46 on the clock.  The Bucs kept it to a two possession game, but the Blue Hose used the final 4:46 of the half to mount a 7-0 run.  CSU went into the intermission down 10 with a 24-34 score.  Carter had 10 points and 3 rebounds on 4-7 shooting at the break.  Presbyterian couldn’t miss in the first half, shooting 52 percent from the floor, behind Coleman’s 10 points.

CSU came out of the locker room with 4 quick points, after athletic layups from Joel Lamb and Tovi Bailey.  It was the Buccaneer defense that brought them back in the game, holding the Blue Hose scoreless in the first 5:36 of the second half.  Thanks in large part to the scoring drought, CSU completed an 11-0 run with a Warren four point play, giving the Bucs a 35-34 lead with 14:40 on the clock.  Warren continued his hot shooting, and two more threes gave CSU their biggest lead of the game with a 46-41 score.

Austin Johnson helped extend that lead with a driving layup that put the Bucs up 50-43 with 7:11 left on the clock.  It was close for the majority of the second half, as CSU’s lead never dipped below 5 or went above 7 for an 8 minute stretch.  It got even closer when a Blue Hose three cut the lead to three with 38 remaining in the game.  Presbyterian used some full-court pressure to force a turnover and had a shot to tie it.  Carter pulled down a rebound with 7 seconds on the clock and after being fouled, calmly hit two free throws to seal the deal and give the Bucs a 57-52 win. 

CSU will continue in the hunt for the post-season when they head to Winthrop on Tuesday for a 7:00pm contest.  The Bucs return home for senior night on February 26th to play Coastal Carolina, before finishing the regular season at Gardner-Webb on February 28th.  Presbyterian visits Gardner-Webb on Wednesday.

WINTHROP 65, APPALACHIAN STATE 63
Winthrop’s Eagles fended off a late-game Mountaineers rally en route to defeating Appalachian State 65-63 Saturday afternoon to pick up their third straight win.  The win is the first-ever for Winthrop over App. State in four tries and improves the Eagles to 3-1 in ESPNU BracketBuster matchups.

Donald Sims, who led App State with a game-high 18 points, drilled a jumper just inside the second half to knot the score at 30 apiece to set up the rollercoaster finish.  Winthrop (9-18) then built a 9 point lead following a Charles Corbin jumper in the paint with 8:04 remaining.  The Mountaineers clawed back into the contest and led by one with 4:19 to go after Marcus Wright hit two free throws.  Josh Hunter then gave App. State a three point edge with 1:40 to play, but Corbin drained his fourth career 3-pointer to tie the game at 63-63 with 1:26 remaining.

Andre Jones, who led the Eagles with 15, drilled a 3-pointer from the left corner with 36 seconds to go to put Winthrop ahead for good.  Mantoris Robinson hit two free throws with 5 ticks on the clock to give Winthrop a slim three-point margin.  Robinson was whistled for a foul on Marcus Wright’s potential game winner on the next possession, but Wright missed 2-of-3 free throws with :00.7.  The Mountaineers’ putback attempt at the buzzer missed to the right.  Appalachian State falls to 12-15 overall and is now 1-2 all-time in ESPNU BracketBuster matchups.  Winthrop will return the game next year in Boone, N.C.

The Eagles return to Big South Conference action on Tuesday night when they host Charleston Southern at 7:00pm.

JAMES MADISON 90, GARDNER-WEBB 78
Gardner-Webb fell victim to a 19-1 run midway through the second half Saturday night, as James Madison turned a six-point deficit into a 12-point lead and turned in a 90-78 win over the Runnin’ Bulldogs.  The matchup, part of the ESPNU BracketBusters weekend, saw Gardner-Webb (11-16) build as much as a nine-point lead in the first half and lead 42-39 at the break after knocking down 8-of-12 from long distance in the opening stanza.

James Madison (18-11) rallied after Nate Blank hit a jumper with 13:18 left in the game that put GWU up 58-52.  The Dukes then went on a 19-1 spurt to go up 71-59, and would extend their lead to as many as 18 points as Gardner-Webb endured a field goal drought that lasted over 11 minutes.  Aaron Linn came off the bench to score 22 points for GWU, Blank added 18 and C.J. Hailey scored 14 in the loss.  Juwann James paced the Dukes with 25 points and Julius Wells added 21 points.

Gardner-Webb shot a sizzling 57 percent in the first half to take its lead into the break, but cooled to shot just 45 percent for the game – which included 10 made three-pointers.  GWU did make 21-of-26 free throws on the night.  Junior scoring star Grayson Flittner continued to slump after returning from a two-and-a-half week injury break, hitting just 2-of-11 shots to finish with eight points.  Freshman Joshua Henley continued his rebounding tear, pulling down 11 caroms to add to his Big South Conference single-season freshman record (276).  

Gardner-Webb returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at home against Presbyterian at 7:00pm. 

OLD DOMINION 80, LIBERTY 56
Liberty freshman Seth Curry scored 24 points and broke two program records and one Big South mark on Saturday, but it was not enough as the Flames (20-9) fell to the Old Dominion Monarchs (18-9), inside the Ted Constant Center, 80-56, as part of the ESPNU BracketBuster series.  The Flames are now 0-2 all-time in the ESPNU BracketBuster series. Liberty fell at Niagara, 90-81, on Feb. 17, 2007, in the Flames’ first appearance in the series.

Curry connected on four three-point buckets, giving the freshman 88 on the year, breaking teammate Anthony Smith’s mark of 84 set a season ago.  Curry also bettered Coastal Carolina’s Jack Leasure’s Big South Conference freshman three-point field goal record of 85 set in 2005.  Curry also finished the contest 2-of-2 from the charity stripe, giving him 38 makes in a row from the line.  The streak breaking Karl Hess (1980) and Matt Hildebrand’s (1992) program record of 37 straight made free throws.  Curry last missed a free throw against Radford on Jan. 24.

Things started quickly for the Flames, as Curry nailed a trey on Liberty’s first possession at 19:40, giving the Flames an early 3-0 lead.  Old Dominion would answer quickly, scoring the next seven points and taking a 7-3 lead.  Ben Finney’s trey at 17:06 finished off the Monarchs run.  Curry hit another three-pointer at 16:42, cutting the Liberty deficit to one point, 7-6. Curry’s jumper at 15:40 trimmed the deficit to two points, 10-8, following an old-fashioned three-point play by Kent Bazemore to extend the Monarchs’ lead to four points.

A three-point bucket by Keyon Carter and another field goal by Finney at 13:50, finished off 10 straight points for the Monarchs.  Liberty counterpunched with 12 straight points to tie the game at 20-20.  During the Liberty run, Tyler Baker started things off with a trey, followed by four straight Johnny Stephene markers.  Anthony Smith hit a trey, quickly followed by a Kyle Ohman layup, capping the run at 10:58.  Old Dominion retook the lead, 29-23, after back-to-back Gerald Lee buckets, followed by a Darius James three.  Lee capped the 9-2 jaunt with a layup off a Marsharee Neely dime. Liberty battled back, taking a one point lead, 30-29, after an Ohman bucket at 3:16 finished a 7-0 run at 3:16.

A Finney trifecta at 2:15 pushed Old Dominion up by two points, 34-32, but Curry would retort with 51 seconds left, tying the game with a back door layup at 34-34.  The Monarchs went into the intermission up two points, 36-34, following a Gerald Less layup with six seconds left.  Liberty connected on 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from the floor in the opening stanza, including 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from three-point land.  Old Dominion hit an efficient 51.7 percent (15-of-29) of its first half shots, including 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from beyond the arc.

The Monarchs shot out of the gate to start the second half, taking a nine point lead, 46-37.  Three layups by Old Dominion capped the 11-3 run. Lee finished the layup bonanza at 16:16.  Smith scored four straight points, including an ally opp on a Baker pass at 14:11, capping the mini Liberty run and cutting the Old Dominion lead to five points, 46-41. But that would be as close Liberty would get the rest of the way.  The Monarchs extended their advantage to 14 points, 59-45, via a 13-4 run, capped by a Neely trey at 10:52.  A Finey layup and two Lee buckets extended the Monarch advantage up to 18 points, 65-47, with 7:46 left to play in the contest.  Lee’s jumper at 2:21 gave Old Dominion a 24 points lead, 78-54, completing a 13-6 burst.  The bucket gave the Old Dominion junior his 1,000 career point.  The Monarchs would hold the 24 point lead to the game’s end, taking home the 80-56 triumph.

The Big South Conference’s leading field goal shooting team slumped in the second half, finishing the game hitting 34.5 percent (20-of-58) from the floor for the game, courtesy of a 27.6 percent (8-of-29) effort in the second stanza.  The Flames hit 29.6 percent (8-of-27) of its three-point attempts on the afternoon.  Curry finished with a team-high 24 points, including the three records, while adding six rebounds. Smith added 14 markers and Ohman chipped in nine points and a team-high four assists in the absence of point guard Jesse Sanders, who is listed as day-to-day with a sprained ankle.

Old Dominion became the second team this season, and the first since Clemson, to connect on over 50 percent of its attempts against Liberty.  The Monarchs finished hitting 61.8 percent (34-of-55) including 50.0 percent (8-of-20) from three point land.  Lee led all scorers with 26 points and a game-high seven rebounds.  Finney added 19 markers and six caroms, helping the Monarchs win the rebound war by 12 rebounds, 36-24.  Frank Hassell added eight points and James dished out a game-high nine assists in the winning effort.

Liberty returns to Big South action on Tuesday, when the VMI Keydets invade the Vines Center.  Tip-off for Senior Night is at 7:00pm.