A&T Aggies Free Throws Take Down Radford 81-77

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  -  Ya Anderson scored a career high for the second straight game, this time pouring in 21, but it was not enough to lift Radford in its road game at North Carolina A&T. The Aggies came away with an 81-77 victory.

Radford (6-8) entered the contest with a chance to even its out-of-conference record heading into Saturday's league opener vs. Charleston Southern. It was North Carolina A&T (6-9), however, that overcame a burst by R.J. Price in the opening minutes of the game and took control midway in the first half.

Price, who was making his first start in four games after recovering from an ankle injury, hit his first three shots, all from behind the three-point arc, to pace the Highlanders. But Aggies responded with a 7-0 run to push the lead to eight points with 10 minutes to play in the half.

RU responded with a strong defensive effort from Jalen Carethers and Lucas Dyer to hold the Aggies to just five more points in the final 10 minutes of the half. The Highlanders briefly took the lead 28-27 before an Austin Witten three-point basket gave A&T a 30-28 lead at the intermission.

Radford head coach Mike Jones applauded his team's effort in the latter part of the half. "We really started to defend, but couldn't sustain that momentum in the second half." The Aggies scored 51 points in the second half and shot 59 percent from the field.

A 10-4 run to open the second half by A&T put Radford in catch-up mode for the better part of the second half. To the Highlanders' credit, they did respond, mostly led by Anderson's hot shooting. The freshman scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half, including four of his career-high five three-point baskets.

Price added 14 points, and Javonte Green overcame early foul trouble to score 10 points. Green also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Carthers finished with eight points, seven rebounds, and three blocked shots.

Statistically, the game about as even as possible. Both teams committed 14 turnovers and grabbed 38 rebounds. A&T outshot the Highlanders from the field, 49 percent to 46. The difference in the game came at the free throw line. The Aggies were 14-22, while just 4-8.


COURTESY RADFORD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS