ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701200133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
Just when you were prepared to say that Radford University's 72-58 whacking of defending Big South Conference champion UNC Greensboro was one of those that's-more-like-it games, Ron Bradley came forward with a differing view.
``We can play better,'' said the Highlanders' men's basketball boss, picky as ever. ``But it is nice to think you're not at your best and you can still win like that.''
Especially when it plops you into a second-place tie in the league standings. Radford moved to 8-7 overall, 2-1 in the conference. The Spartans dropped to 6-11 overall and 2-1 in the Big South.
``They came in in first place and we felt like we should have been 2-0 too,'' said Radford guard Anthony Walker, who played a team-high 33 minutes, his most since Jan.4. ``We can play better, but we came out of here with a win and a smile and that's all that matters.''
There haven't been many smiles for Walker lately. His father, Charles Walker, died last week at age 57. Anthony missed his first game since Feb.26, 1994, a span of 69 straight outings, to attend the funeral. He rejoined the team only minutes before the start of a 79-66 victory Jan.11 at Maryland-Baltimore County.
``I kept telling Coach I couldn't get my wind during the UMBC game,'' Walker said. ``But I wasn't so much physically fatigued as I was mentally fatigued. It had been a stressful week because of my dad. Now I know what [Michael] Jordan went through with the death of his father. It's tough, very tough.''
Against the Spartans, Walker anted up 15 points and had team highs of six assists and three steals. Eleven of the points came in the game's final 6:04. Walker had 11 of the team's last 17 points and went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the last 44 seconds.
Others pitched in. Corey Reed flamed five of six 3-point attempts and made seven of 10 shots overall on the way to a team-high 19 points. Big men Kevin Robinson and Eric Bowens each had 13 points and combined for 15 rebounds.
Although Radford once again lost the rebounding battle (for the 14th time in 15 games), the margin was just 36-34 in the Spartans' favor. Robinson had nine rebounds.
``We've been working in practice on rebounding by putting a lid on the basket so that every shot is a missed shot,'' Robinson said. ``That puts you in the mindset for a rebound on every shot. I like that drill.''
Radford was up and down offensively but respectable defensively throughout. The Spartans were limited to 35.1 percent shooting, 27.6 percent (8-for-29) in the second half. Guard Tony Daughtry scored 24 points and made eight of 15 shots, but the rest of the Spartans were a combined 12-of-42. NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB