Gardner-Webb holds off Radford for 59-54 win

Jan 13, 2018, 03:00 am

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. -- Liam O'Reilly scored 17 points, David Efianayi added 12 more and Gardner-Webb hung on Friday night for a 59-54 win over Radford to move into a tie for first place in the Big South Conference.

Gardner-Webb (9-9, 4-1) held Radford to just 16 points in the opening half but had to scramble late in the second as the Highlanders rallied with a 20-8 run to trim the deficit to 56-54 with under a minute to play.

Travis Fields Jr. and Caleb Tanner each had 3-pointers for Radford during the run, which was capped with a dunk from Ed Polite Jr., but the Bulldogs closed it out from the free-throw line to seal it.

DJ Laster finished with 11 points and L'Hassane Niangane hauled in 12 rebounds for Gardner-Webb, which controlled the glass 42-33.

Polite had 15 points and nine rebounds to lead Radford (11-7, 4-1), which entered the game in sole possession of first in the Big South.