Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 22, 1994 TAG: 9402220150
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
\ Two weeks ago, Radford University basketball coach Ron Bradley publicly questioned his team's character and mental toughness.
He won't be doing that again any time soon.
The Highlanders showed what they were made of Monday night by churning back from 21 points down to upend Charleston Southern 83-78 in a Big South Conference game that capped their first undefeated season in the Dedmon Center.
"We've been hearing some of the guys talk about the old `Never-say-die- landers' and the young guys didn't want to let that go," freshman guard Anthony Walker said.
It was the old guys, seniors Don Burgess and Tyrone Travis, who led the remarkable comeback. Burgess scored 28 points - 21 in the second half - and had seven rebounds in 39 minutes. Travis had 24 points and six rebounds in 38 minutes. They combined for five blocked shots.
"Man, that was right up there with [former Highlander] Ron Shelburne hitting two free throws with 2 seconds left to beat VMI and Doug [Day, also departed] hitting that 3 at the buzzer to beat VCU," Travis said. "This one was a little scary for a while."
Travis tied the score for the first time since early in the game with a pair of free throws. Burgess, who made all 12 of his free throws, hit a couple more with 3:24 left to give Radford a 72-70 lead, its first of the game.
From that point, there were two ties and two lead changes, the last when Burgess nailed a 3-pointer from the right wing with 1:11 left to make it 77-76. Burgess would go on to score six more points including a pair of foul shots that put Radford up 81-76 with 18 seconds left.
"Tyrone and Anthony Walker and myself always get on each other when we miss free throws," Burgess said.
As a team, Radford buried 24 of 27 - 19 of 21 in the second half. Walker and Travis were a combined 12-for-14. Radford also forced a team-record tying 33 turnovers.
"Thirty-three turnovers is ridiculous," Buccaneers coach Gary Edwards said.
Radford improved to 19-6, 13-4 and continued to hold onto second place in the league, a half-game behind Towson State. Charleston Southern is certainly the most mysterious 7-17, 5-11 team around.
"How can that team lose?" Travis said. "At every position they're our equal or better and it's the same for anybody in the conference."
Edwards had an answer for that.
"I'm used to this by now," he said. "We've had many, many games that down the stretch we don't get the leadership we need and don't get the job done."
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB