Radford Falls By Three to UNCA

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Whit Holcomb-Faye's two 3-point attempts with under five seconds rimmed out as Radford fell 75-72 to UNC Asheville Tuesday night in the Justice Center in a Big South Conference game. (Box Score)

The Bulldogs led most of the game but could never put the Highlanders away. UNCA led 71-62 with 4:29 left only to see Radford come back and cut the lead to 73-71 on a senior Olumuyiwa Popoola trey with 1:01 remaining.

UNCA then got a huge bucket from Omar Collington to push the lead to 75-71. Bryan McCullough missed a 10-footer but Collington tapped in the missed shot to give the Bulldogs the four-point lead.

Radford came down the floor and sophomore Chris Oliver drew a foul with 27 seconds left. He hit the first free throw to cut the lead to 75-72, missed the second but claimed the offensive rebound.

After a Radford timeout, the Highlanders went for the tying shot, but Oliver missed a long 3-point attempt. Sophomore Reggie McIntyre got the offensive rebound for Radford with seven seconds left.

Holcomb-Faye got two looks for a tie but missed both trey attempts and Brett Warner claimed the defensive rebound on the second shot to give UNCA the victory.

Holcomb-Faye, whose 55-foot shot at the buzzer beat High Point last Saturday, led the Highlanders with 20 points. Oliver scored 14 points for RU. Popoola had 12 and Andre Bynum each scored 10 points. Reggie McIntrye led the Highs on the glass with 11 rebounds.

McCullough led UNCA with 15 points while Collington and Chad Mohn each scored 14 points. The Bulldogs crashed the boards, with five players pulling down more than five rebounds. K.J. Garland tallied eight assists.

UNCA (6-12, 3-4 Big South) outrebounded RU 50-35, including 24-17 on the offensive glass, leading to 25 second-chance points.

Radford (8-10, 3-4 Big South) will return home for a key Big South matchup Saturday against Liberty at 7:00 pm. The Bulldogs play next at Charleston Southern Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.