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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 25, 1992                   TAG: 9202250167
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: ROCK HILL, S.C.                                LENGTH: Short

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RADFORD CLINCHES BIG SOUTH

The Radford Highlanders clinched their first Big South Conference basketball regular-season championship Monday night by scorching Winthrop College 80-66.

Chris Hawkins and Brian Schmall scored 15 points each for the Highlanders, who won for the eighth straight time to equal the school's best winning streak since joining Division I in 1984-85.

Hawkins also had a school-record eight steals.

Radford scoring ace Doug Day was held to seven points on 2-of-10 shooting from the field, but the Highlanders (19-7, 12-1) compensated for his off night by getting balanced scoring from Hawkins, Schmall and Stephen Barber, who added 13 points.

Winthrop shot 57 percent from the floor and outrebounded Radford by nine. But the Eagles also committed 27 turnovers, which the Highlanders turned into 30 points.

Radford used an aggressive defense to forge a 38-22 lead at halftime.

"I was really proud of the way we came out and played defense, particularly in the first half," said Radford coach Ron Bradley. "That's where we won the game."

After building its halftime advantage, Radford played with less intensity on defense in the second half. However, Winthrop (6-20, 2-11) could not gain any ground by swapping baskets with the Highlanders.

"This was a great win for us to get," said Bradley. "It's great to get that championship." \

see microfilm for box score

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Memo: a longer version ran in the New River Valley edition.

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