Highlanders Handle Longwood

FARMVILLE, Va. - Four Radford players set career highs as Radford earned a 91-81 victory over Longwood in non-conference men's basketball Tuesday at Willett Hall. (Box Score)

Sophomore Chris Oliver (Kernersville, N.C.) broke his career high in scoring for the third straight game, scoring 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting. He added eight rebounds. Junior Whit Holcomb-Faye (Winston-Salem, N.C.) tallied an unusual double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds to go with four assists and four steals. Sophomore Reggie McIntyre (Piedmont, S.C.) set career highs in points (15), boards (9) and assists (5). Senior Brandon Jeffers (Baltimore, Md.) also had a career high with 12 points.

The Highlanders shot 52% (33-64) from the field, including 47% (8-17) on three-pointers, and 71% (17-24) at the line. The Lancers led 45-40 at halftime, but the visiting Highlanders rallied in the second half to outscore the hosts 51-36.

Longwood and Radford battled throughout the contest as the Lancers led 7-4 early (18:09) on a three-pointer from sophomore Michael Jefferson (Chesterfield, Va.) LU took its largest lead of the game at 29-22 with 6:59 left in the half on jumper from Jefferson. The Highlanders fought back with a 13-2 run to lead 35-31 late in the period (3:12). Longwood, however, came right back with its own 14-5 run to lead 45-40 at the intermission as freshman Dana Smith (Woodbridge, Va.) scored eight points, including two three-pointers.

Radford came out strong in the second half, closing to within 47-45 at 17:43 on a pair of free throws from Josh Fox. The Highlanders extended the lead to 65-58 at 9:38 on a three-pointer from Whit Holcomb-Faye. Longwood made a final run to within 72-68 with 5:06 left to play on a three-pointer from sophomore Maurice Sumter (Alexandria, Va.). RU, however, closed the door, outscoring the Lancers 19-13 down the stretch behind nine points from Oliver.

Longwood was led by Jefferson with his 19 points, four assists, and three steals, while freshman Lamar Barrett (Providence, Va.) added 15 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Smith contributed a career-high 13 points, including 3-4 on three-pointers, and Sumter finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. The Lancers shot 39% (29-75) from the field, including 32% (11-34) on three-pointers, and 86% (12-14) at the line.

RU (2-1) will open its home schedule Monday with a game against in-state foe Ferrum at 7:00 pm. Longwood (0-3) will host Quinnipiac Saturday at 3:00 pm.