Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 4, 1995 TAG: 9503070027
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
Friday afternoon in the opening round of the Big South Conference tournament was one of those occasions. The Highlanders thoroughly dominated UNC Asheville at both ends of the floor and won handily 63-47 to advance to the semifinals for the sixth straight year.
The Highlanders (16-11) play top-seeded UNC Greensboro, which hammered Winthrop 75-51, in the first game of tonight's semifinal doubleheader at 6 p.m.
``Radford plays the way it did today and it can play with anybody,'' UNCA coach Randy Wiel said.
Radford, which rarely has played this well this season, shot 47 percent from the floor, including 5-for-11 from 3-point range, held the Bulldogs (11-16) to 39 percent shooting, and won the rebounding battle 36-23.
``The effort of our seniors was the key to the game,'' Radford coach Ron Bradley said.
That would be forward Chris Harvey and center Antoine Dalton. Harvey had 12 points to go with five rebounds and two steals. Dalton, slighted in the all-conference voting announced Friday despite season averages of 14.6 points and 6.2 rebounds, finished with 21 points and 18 rebounds.
``After the announcement of the all-conference team this morning, I was pretty upset,'' Dalton said.
To a man, the Highlanders played as though they were perturbed with somebody. They scored on their first six possessions to take a 12-3 lead and never were challenged.
The Highlanders kept up the pressure in the second half by sinking 12 of their last 19 free throws.
The defense was sound throughout.
``They're one of the best defensive teams in our league,'' Wiel said. ``The first two times we played them, we got some open shots at the basket. Today, we didn't get much of anything.''
Before Friday, Radford had been 0-3 against the Bulldogs in tournament play. In the two meetings this season, Radford won 71-68 at home and 67-65 in Asheville, N.C.
``Coach emphasized all week that the key was going to be post transition and putting pressure on the ball,'' said Radford guard Anthony Walker.
The Highlanders had nine steals and forced 16 turnovers. The Bulldogs were held to only eight second-half field goals, three in the first 13 minutes,15 seconds.
Center William Coley led UNC Asheville with 14 points.
``We have three guys who aren't healthy [Ralph Mellis, Robert Stevenson and Coley played hurt], but that's not an excuse,'' Wiel said. ``We were flat as a team and we didn't play with much energy.''
Radford has lost in the semifinals the last five seasons. Tonight, it plays a Spartans team that has manhandled it twice previously.
``Coach told us he'd find us a way to win,'' Harvey said.
Bradley rolled his eyes at that one.
``I may have said that, but I don't know how I'm going to do it. UNCG is the strongest team I've ever seen in this conference.''
by CNB