CCU

Men's Basketball Loses Overtime Thriller to Radford, 70-69

           

Men's Basketball Loses Overtime Thriller to Radford, 70-69

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CONWAY, SC – Guard Andre Bynum hit a leaning jumper with 11.1 seconds to play in overtime to lift Radford to a 70-69 Big South Conference victory over host Coastal Carolina, Sat., Jan. 21. With their first home loss in nine home games this season, the Chanticleers fell to 8-9 and 2-4 in Big South play, while Radford moved to 10-7 and 3-2 in league action.

This was a classic battle throughout the game, as the teams traded leads 23 times and were tied another seven. Coastal got the first basket, but Radford took it from there, going on an 8-1 run to take the early lead. Coastal battled back to take the lead at 11-10 with 10:54 to go in the first half and eventually building a 27-18 lead with 3:02 to go until intermission. However, Radford came back with the final eight points of the half, all by guard Whit Holcomb-Faye to cut the lead to 27-26 CCU at the break.

Both teams hit 11 shots from the field in the first half, including three triples each. Radford had a slight rebound edge in the opening half 18-17. Holcomb-Faye led all scorers with 13 points, while Coastal was paced by guard Steven Sexton with seven, as eight Chanticleers scored in the first half.

The Highlanders went on a 13-4 run to open the second half and take a 39-31 lead early in the second half. CCU battled back with the next 10 points over 3:54 to re-take the lead at 41-39 with 11:59 remaining in second half. The two teams battled the remainder of the half, with neither team taking more than a four-point lead the remainder of the game. With CCU leading 62-61, Bynum went to the basket, scoring a basket and drawing a controversial blocking foul with just 31 second to play. Bynum hit the free throw to put the Highlanders up 64-62 with 31 second to go. After Coastal missed a shot, RU forward Reggie McIntyre missed the front end of the one-and-one to give the Chants one last chance with 11 seconds to play. Coastal went down the floor quickly, where guard Pele Paelay found forward Matt Brennan for a lay-in with 1.1 seconds to play, sending the game to overtime.

The teams exchanged leads four times in the overtime, but the Chanticleers, who were just 1-for-8 from the field in the extra period, had control in the late stages after a pair of free throws by guard Colin Stevens gave Coastal a three-point lead with 46 seconds to go. Holcomb-Faye hit a bucket with 31 seconds to go. CCU had the ball, but trying to the clock out, the Chants turned it over, leading to Bynum's game winner. Coastal had one last chance, but Paelay's off-balance jumper fell short, giving Radford the road victory.

CCU hit just 41.0 percent (25-for-61) from the floor in the game, while Radford was 47.5 percent (29-for-61) from the field. CCU won the rebound battle 39-36, but couldn't convert well at the free throw line, hitting just 12-for-19 at the stripe.

Coastal was led by Brennan's 14 points and season-high nine rebounds, while guards Jack Leasure and Sexton tallied 13 and 10 points, respectively. Radford had four in double figures, led by Holcomb-Faye's 28 points, while forward Chris Oliver chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds.

Coastal hits the road for a Big South contest at defending conference champion Winthrop, Tue., Jan. 24. Tipoff at Winthrop Coliseum is set for 7 p.m.