Highlanders Score Comeback Victory Over North Carolina A&T

RADFORD, Va. - Senior Brandon Jeffers (Baltimore, Md.) scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Radford men’s basketball to a 66-61 comeback win over non-Conference foe North Carolina A&T Thursday night at the Dedmon Center. (Box Score)

Jeffers was joined in double figures by junior Whit Holcomb-Faye (Winston-Salem, N.C.) who had 17 points and by sophomore Chris Oliver’s (Kernersville, N.C.) 15 points. Oliver also had seven rebounds to join Jeffers in leading RU on the glass. The Highlanders improved to 4-1 on the season.

North Carolina A&T (1-5) jumped out to an early lead, helped out by poor shooting from the Highlanders. After sophomore Reggie McIntyre (Piedmont, S.C.) hit a free throw at 19:06 to make it 1-0, RU didn’t score again until the 15:17 mark when Holcomb-Faye hit a short jumper. The Aggies dropped 11 points on RU to take a quick 11-1 lead. Radford battled back, but North Carolina A&T held off the rally to lead 28-24 at the half.

The Aggies pushed their lead to as many as nine in the second half on a three-pointer by senior Steven Koger (Louisville, Ky.) at the 13:20 mark. Radford took advantage of several N.C. A&T fouls, hitting its free throws to close to within two. Jeffers then gave RU its first lead since McIntyre’s first-half free throw with a layup a 6:01. A&T sophomore Sean Booker (Louisville, Ky.) responded with a layup of his own to give the Aggies the lead again, but a layup by junior Chris Goodin (Springfield, Va.) a minute later gave RU the lead for good. Oliver and Jeffers combined for 12 points down the stretch to secure the victory.

North Carolina A&T was led by Booker’s 19 points. Senior Rechodd Carter (Huntsville, Ala.) had seven rebounds, three assists and four steals to go along with eight points. Sophomore Greg Roberts (Charlotte, N.C.) and senior Jeff Alvis (Louisville, Ky.) also had eight points apiece and Roberts had three assists.

Radford will be on the road this Saturday facing West Virginia at 7:00 pm. North Carolina A&T will also be on the road at Coppin State on Saturday for a 7:30 pm Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener.