Jones with 23 as Radford holds onto Big South lead 80-61
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Carlik Jones scored 18 of his 23 points after halftime Saturday when Radford took control in an 80-61 win over Winthrop, rebounding from a stunning loss to maintain its spot atop the Big South Conference.
Winthrop was seeking to take over first place from the Highlanders after Radford was shocked, 68-67 on Wednesday when the nation's leading scorer, Chris Clemons drained a 35-foot shot at the buzzer for Campbell.
Radford (16-7, 8-1) lost an eight-game win streak and were trailing at halftime Saturday. Ed Polite, Jr. opened the second half with a 3-pointer and the Highlanders pulled away with an 18-6 surge. Winthrop never pulled closer than seven the rest of the way.
Jones, a sophomore, made 8 of 11 shots and hauled in a career-best 10 rebounds with six assists, notching his second career double-double.
Polite scored nine and had 11 boards. Travis Fields Jr. scored 16 and Caleb Tanner 11.
Nych Smith led the Eagles (14-8, 6-3) with 22 points, but Winthrop shot just 27.5 percent in the second half.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Lee Kluttz
- Michael Luckie
- Devyn Page
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 |