Jones leads Radford to an 88-78 win over UIC in home opener
RADFORD, Va. -- Carlik Jones scored 24 points and dished 10 assists and Radford pulled away late to top UIC, 88-78 in an opening round game in the Gotham Classic tournament Friday night.
The game was the first meeting between the programs. Radford won its opener, 91-57 over Davis and Elkins; UIC lost to Notre Dame in its opener, 84-67.
Radford build an 11-point lead with under three minutes left in the first half, but the Flames stormed back. Jamie Ahale hit two 3-pointers and Tarkus Ferguson drained a third and the Highlanders took a 38-34 lead into intermission.
Marcus Ottey hit a 3 with 16:25 left to give UIC a 44-41 lead, but neither team could expand on the lead until Radford took charge on Jones' 3-point play with nine minutes left. Caleb Tanner added a 3 to make it 58-53, and after Ferguson added a layup for UIC, the Highlanders got five straight points from Ed Polite Jr. and a 3 from Donald Hicks to make it 66-55.
Hicks finished with 16 points and Travis Fields Jr. added another 15 for Radford. Polite grabbed a dozen rebounds.
Ferguson finished with 22 points for UIC, with Ottey adding another 18.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Lee Kluttz
- Michael Carlan
- Dan Powers
2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Indiana State | 17-3 | - | 32-7 |
Drake | 16-4 | 1 | 28-7 |
Bradley | 13-7 | 4 | 23-12 |
Belmont | 12-8 | 5 | 20-13 |
Northern Iowa | 12-8 | 5 | 19-14 |
Southern Illinois | 11-9 | 6 | 19-13 |
Illinois State | 9-11 | 8 | 15-17 |
Murray State | 9-11 | 8 | 12-20 |
Missouri State | 8-12 | 9 | 17-16 |
Evansville | 6-14 | 11 | 17-18 |
UIC | 4-16 | 13 | 12-21 |
Valparaiso | 3-17 | 14 | 7-25 |
2023-24 Big South Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
High Point | 13-3 | - | 27-9 |
UNC Asheville | 12-4 | 1 | 22-12 |
Gardner-Webb | 11-5 | 2 | 17-16 |
Winthrop | 8-8 | 5 | 17-15 |
Longwood | 6-10 | 7 | 21-14 |
Presbyterian | 6-10 | 7 | 14-19 |
Charleston Southern | 6-10 | 7 | 10-20 |
Radford | 5-11 | 8 | 16-17 |
South Carolina Upstate | 5-11 | 8 | 10-20 |