Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 23, 1993 TAG: 9302230129
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
TOWSON STATE POUNDS RADFORD
Certainly this wasn't the college basketball team that had been averaging more than 94 points per game in its previous six outings. Surely this is a cruel dupe job.It was cruel, all right, but only if you have any love for Radford University basketball. Towson State microwaved the Highlanders 81-70 in a Big South Conference game that made no pretense of being close.
Clay formed Radford's feet from the start.
"Worse than the pits," Radford center Tom Gallaher said. "In my eyes, the best thing you can do is forget that game happened. We've had some bad games, but not like that."
There's one game left to excise the memory of this stinker - against Liberty on Saturday, a team that gives Radford fits - before the Highlanders (13-15 overall, 7-8 in the conference) wake up in the conference tournament next week.
"It scares me," Radford coach Ron Bradley said. "The suspicion is that the players have given up on the season. I know the coaches haven't. The players say they haven't. . . . "
Among Radford's offenses was a general lack of defense or enthusiasm. Doug Day, Brian Schmall and Don Burgess fouled out. The Tigers dominated the rebounding 41-33. Radford squeezed out 30 points in the first half, shooting 34.3 percent.
This from a team that has cracked 100 twice and been in the 90s six times. One of those occasions was a 98-90 loss at Towson.
"We came out and played more defense," said Tigers guard Scooter Alexander. "We couldn't let it be an offensive battle like we had at our place."
Towson, as usual, was a snappy perimeter team, getting 21 points from Devin Boyd, 20 from Alexander and 17 from reserve Ralph Blalock. All three are guards. They were a combined 25-for-29 on free throws. Towson (17-8, 13-2), which leads the conference in free throws attempted, made 32 of 42.
"We started fouling them with six minutes to go," Bradley said. "I don't think [all the free throws] is as significant as it looks."
What was significant was the Tigers' defense. Radford had trouble shooting (42.4 percent for the game), it had a miserable time making entry passes and it all but melted down with simple ball-handling chores (17 turnovers).
"Bad news," Schmall said. "They slowed it down and took us out of our game."
Eric Bowens, a freshman, came off the bench to score 16 points and generally looked better than any of his Radford teammates. Burgess scored nine of his 14 in the second half, after the issue had long since been settled. Day scored 11 but went 3-for-13 from the floor.
"They played like they'd forgotten about it before it even started," Bradley said. "That's difficult for me to understand. I'm an old man and I just wish I could have one more college game to play again. You have to approach each game with enthusiasm."