ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512080070
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
Ron Bradley, Radford University's basketball coach, was complimenting team leaders Anthony Walker and Jason Lansdown on Thursday night.
``They're learning that they don't have to do it all for us,'' Bradley said.
Should they have forgotten that at any point, Eric Bowens was around to remind them.
Bowens was more than East Tennessee State could contend with as he came off the bench to record career highs in points and rebounds to lead the Highlanders to an 88-77 victory.
Bowens led Radford (3-2) with 22 points and nine rebounds as the Highlanders hoisted the Buccaneers (2-3) to the yardarm.
Bowens has had trouble finding a niche at Radford, but that no longer seems to be the case.
``I enjoy being a part of the team,'' he said. ``It used to upset me that I'd have to come off the bench, but not anymore. I understand my role and I want to help in any way I can.''
Most of the time when Bowens went to work down low, ETSU's interior defenders were helpless.
``We let them get the ball down low on too many occasions,'' ETSU coach Alan LeForce said. ``We're not a very physical team and when we allow teams to do that, we're in trouble.''
Radford led the entire second half, never allowing the Buccaneers to draw closer than seven points.
Walker added 22 points to go with nine assists, forward Kevin Robinson added 12 points and eight rebounds, and Lansdown chipped in 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
``I liked the togetherness we showed between the post and the perimeter,'' Bradley said.
Radford made 33 of 58 shots and hit 19 of 23 free throws.
Radford turned the first half and the game around in surprising fashion. Starting out swiftly, ETSU took an 18-8 lead and looked like an unstoppable bunch in so doing.
But instead of recoiling, Radford reacted with a renewed purpose, eventually battling back to tie the score 35-all on a pair of Walker free throws.
It was about that time that the Buccaneers were going goofy on offense - turnovers, silly shots. It was also about that time that Bowens started to look every good indeed.
``It's about time,'' Walker kidded him later.
East Tennessee State was led by Virginian Delwyn Dillard, a transfer from Virginia Tech. Dillard made seven of 11 shots from the field and seven of eight free throws for 21 points. Guard Shahid Perkins' contribution was 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting.
The Buccaneers ended by shooting 41.7 percent (31-for-69) from the field.
``It was a shootout for a while but then we cooled off,'' LeForce said. ``But we kept shooting.'
Radford's defense may have had something to do with it.
``Our pressure got to them and they kept going back to the same thing,'' Lansdown said.
Radford had 19 turnovers, two more than ETSU, but it was true that the visitors seemed to be the more rattled team.
``I was pleased with the intensity and toughness we showed,'' Bradley said, adding, ``after the first seven or eight minutes.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 linesby CNB