Liberty Rally Drops Radford

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Liberty overcame an 12-point halftime deficit to defeat Radford 70-62 Saturday night in a Big South Conference game at the Vines Center. The loss was RU's fourth straight. (Box Score)

The Highlanders drop to 5-9 in League play and 10-15 overall. Liberty improves to 10-5 in the Big South and 12-13 overall.

Liberty opened the game up strong, scoring 14 of the games first 20 points as Brian Woodson's gave the Flames an early eight-point lead, 14-6, at the 14:16 mark. However, the Highlanders quickly responded by scoring 10 unanswered points as a pair of free throws by Chris Oliver gave Radford its first lead of the game at 16-14. After a three-pointer by Larry Blair, the Highlanders outscored the Flames 8-2 over a four-minute span, taking a three-point lead, 22-19, with 6:43 left to play in the first half.

Blair trimmed the lead to one with a jumper in the lane just 30 seconds later, but the Highlanders would hold the Flames without a field goal and just three free throws over the last six minutes of the half, enabling Radford to head into the locker room at the intermission with an eight-point lead, 32-24.

The Highlanders quickly extended their lead to 12 points with back-to-back baskets by Olumuyiwa Popoola and Oliver on their first two possession of the second half. However, David Dees scored two of his 19 second half points to start a 7-0 run for Liberty, allowing the Flames to cut the lead to five points, 36-31, after a Leo Lightbourne tip-in at the 16:38 mark.

Popoola scored his 1,000th career point, the 22nd RU player to accomplish the feat, with a three-pointer. His trey extended the lead back to eight points, but Liberty once again responded by scoring 10 of the next 14 points to trim the lead to two points, 43-41, at the 13:40 mark.

Popoola sank a pair of free throws just 90 seconds later, giving the Highlanders a five-point lead, 50-45, only to see the Flames respond with a 9-0 run to take the lead for good on back-to-back three-pointer by Blair and Dees with eight minutes remaining.

The Flames pushed their lead to seven points, 61-54, with another trey by Dees, and Radford responded with six-straight points, trimming the lead to just one point, 61-60, on a lay-up by Oliver at the 3:29. But the Flames put the game away with an 8-0 run, securing their second-straight season with 10 or more conference victories and just their fifth since joining the Big South during the 1991-92 season.

Both teams placed four players in double figures, with David Dees leading all scorers with 23 points for the Flames. Larry Blair had 18 while Brian Woodson scored 13 points. Leo Lightbourne had 11 points and nine rebounds. Rashad Robinson also had nine rebounds, which led LU.

Andre Bynum scored 14 points, one shy of a career high, and four assists. Brandon Jeffers and Olumuyiwa Popoola each had 13 points. Chris Oliver added 12 points. Jeffers, Oliver and Popoola each had six rebounds.

Radford will travel to High Point Wednesday for its final road game of the regular season. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm. The Flames close out their regular season Thursday at UNC Asheville at 7:00 pm.