Radford University Athletics
MARTIN LEADS UNCA PAST RADFORD
RADFORD -- Kevin Martin scored 24 points and Mike Matthews added
20 to lead UNC Asheville to a 79-70 win against Radford Wednesday night
in the Dedmon Center.
UNCA (4-11, 2-0) enjoyed its biggest lead of the game after Martin made
a layup that pushed the Bulldog cushion to 56-39 with 10:44 remaining. The
RU offense, which had been dormant most of the evening, then came to life
and the Highlanders (7-7, 0-2) went on a 15-1 run sparked by two consecutive
Leslie Ballard 3-pointers. (See boxscore.)
A pair of Rian Everett free throws completed the run and cut the Highlanders'
deficit to 57-54 with 7:03 remaining, but Matthews and Martin took over.
Matthews drained a 3-pointer to push the UNCA lead to six and Martin canned
a layup and a jumper to complete the 7-0 run and give the Bulldogs a 63-53
advantage.
The Highlanders continued to battle and cut the Bulldog lead to 71-67
on a pair of Jason Williams free throws with 45 seconds remaining, but UNCA
made eight of its 10 free throw attempts in the final 44 seconds to clinch
the victory.
RU jumped out to an early 11-6 lead, but UNCA responded with an 8-0 run
and never trailed again.
While UNCA shot 55 percent from the field, including a searing 65 percent
in the second half, RU was ice cold. The Highlanders shot 32 percent from
the floor, including an 8-of-30 effort from beyond the 3-point line.
Everett, RU's only consistent offensive weapon in the game, scored a
career high 24 points to lead the Highlanders. Jason Williams recorded new
career highs with 13 points and seven rebounds.
(1998-99 Cumulative Stats) |