Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 4, 1992 TAG: 9202040183
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
RADFORD RALLY DROPS CAMELS
Once, just once, for the long-term mental health and stability of its coaches and fans, Radford University might avoid making its basketball life so very difficult.For now, alas, such remains but a dream.
Following a pattern seen throughout this bizarre season, Radford climbed into a coffin then pried off the lid Monday night. The Highlanders were down 17 points to Campbell College, then shot 59.1 percent in the second half to rally for a 80-75 Big South Conference victory.
"It takes a scare to get a fire under our butts," said Radford guard Doug Day, the target of a gimmick defense all night. "I don't want us to keep doing that because it takes a lot out of you to keep coming back like that.
"But right now, that's our style of play."
Ron Bradley, the first-year Radford coach, has taken a firm position on the subject of the Highlanders' style.
"Coach has expressed his complete dislike of our brand of play," forward Stephen Barber said.
Bradley disliked it so much that he benched all five starters in the first half and came in with a lineup that featured Brian Schmall at the point, Nate Joy at shooting guard, Chris Harvey and Jamie Warren at forwards and Pete Reece at center.
That group didn't do much with the deficit, which grew to 30-13, but it did seem to inspire the first string.
"I was thinking about putting a [second unit] in before," Bradley said. "My starters convinced me to do it."
Radford drifted along, shooting 12-of-31 for 38.7 percent in the first half and being outrebounded 23-16. The rebounding disparity would grow to 38-28 by the end of the game, but the Highlanders were making up for it in other ways.
For one, they forced 21 turnovers, 12 in the second half, while making only 14. Radford also tied a team record with 13 3-point field goals, nine in the second half. Day, Barber, Schmall and Don Burgess each had three 3-pointers.
The Highlanders shot 75 percent (9-for-12) on 3-point attempts in the second half. Schmall made all three of his 3-point attempts in the second half and finished with 19 points, 17 after halftime. Burgess scored 18 while making all three of his 3-point tries to go with nine rebounds and three assists.
Barber added 11 points, the biggest three of which came on an uncanny catch-and-launch bomb with two seconds left on the shot clock with 1:33 left.
That put Radford up 72-68.
"Just one of those things," Camels coach Billy Lee said. "We couldn't do anything about it. That was a pivotal shot for them, though."
Radford (13-7 overall, 7-1 in the conference), which has made 62.3 percent of its free throws in the past seven games, then made eight of its last 10 free throws to seal the victory. Point guard Chris Hawkins sank six of the free throws and was 7-for-10 for the game for his seven points.
Day, the league's second-leading scorer coming in at 19.3 points per game, was limited to nine points.
"We did a good job on Day," Lee said. "Schmall was the one who hurt us."
So did Barber, with his defense of Camels leading scorer Mark Mocnik, who had only six points after halftime. He finished with 16, a little more than his average.
Campbell (10-10, 4-6) had a three-game winning streak ended.
Radford came back from a second-half deficit for the ninth time in 13 victories. It was the fifth time Radford rallied from more than 10 points in the second half; this time they trailed by 13.
So Radford holds onto undisputed possession of first place in the league. Again, the Highlanders did it the hard way. \
see microfilm for box score