GREENEVILLE- Radford had as much as a nine point lead in the first half against the East Carolina Pirates, but long scoring droughts and a big day by ECU’s Jayden Gardner was too much to overcome as Radford fell 63-50. Gardner finished his day with 20 points and eight rebounds, as ECU improves to 3-0 for the first time since 2013.
Both teams got off to hot starts, splitting the first 16 points. A quick 4-0 run by Radford, capped on a Chryee Walker post move, gave the visitors a 12-8 lead at the first media timeout. The run continued after the stoppage thanks to the Highlanders hitting the glass with a pair of put backs. A Xavier Lipscomb three point play gave Radford their biggest lead at 19-10 to cap a 13-2 Radford run.
Trent Robinson-White broke the streak for ECU with a bucket and Noah Farrakhan drilled a triple to cut the Pirate deficit to 19-16. The home team grabbed the lead on a pair of Gardner free throws. Brandon Suggs also hit a pair from the charity stripe for a 26-21 ECU lead. Gardner added a three point play to expand the advantage but Lipscomb ended the run with a floater. When the dust settled, ECU still led 31-27 at the half.
Suggs opened the second half with a transition layup, as ECU led 35-29 at the media timeout. That lead ballooned to 41-30 on a 3 by Tyrie Jackson, as ECU showed signs of pulling away The Pirate defense held Radford to just one field goal through the first eight minutes of the second half. Farrakhan then made the hole a little deeper with a 3.
Radford would not go quietly, responding with a quick 4-0 run. Gardner scored the next seven ECU points however, as the home team led 51-38 with 7:38 left in the contest. Quinton Robinson tried to get the momentum back on the Radford bench with a 3 to pull his team to 53-43 with 4:51 left. It was too much Gardner down the stretch however as ECU kept Radford at bay.
Fah’Mir Ali, Robinson and Shaquan Jules shared the scoring lead for Radford with nine points each. The Highlanders drop to 0-3 with the loss but hope to pick up their first win when they host Big South foe Longwood to open conference play on December 14th. Tip-off is set for 6 pm.
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