ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 23, 1997 TAG: 9702250059
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
ANTHONY WALKER SETS a school record for assists in a career, but the Highlanders fall to their Big South rivals in the final game of the season at the Dedmon Center.
There is no mistaking who has the momentum going into the Big South Conference men's basketball tournament now.
Liberty University used Radford's Highlanders as a launching pad, dusting the home team 89-75 in the regular-season finale at the Dedmon Center.
Radford had it going before being flamed by Liberty, winning five of six. Instead of keeping it rolling against the archrival Flames, Radford got rolled.
Take your pick. The poison Liberty administered came in many different flavors. The Flames outshot Radford 55.4 percent to 38.2 percent, and Liberty outrebounded the Highlanders 42-29.
The worst of it was the Flames seemed to be able to score at will. Liberty, not known as an offensive powerhouse, amassed 44 points in the first half and 45 in the second.
``I felt as though we were always one defensive stop away,'' said Ron Bradley, Radford's coach. ``But we didn't get it.''
Not if six Liberty players scoring in double figures is any indication.
``They just stuck it in our faces with their shots, and that just happens,'' Bradley said.
The main damage came in the first half. Liberty (21-8, 11-3) fired away from the perimeter, scoring on eight of 14 3-point shots.
``I don't want to take anything away from their shooters, but I was disappointed in our defense to allow that,'' Bradley said.
The game was the last at home for senior Anthony Walker, who set a school record Saturday by recording the 500th assist of his career. Walker had a fine overall game, scoring 20 points to go with seven assists. But most of that seemed lost to him as he dealt quietly with his despair.
``They were extremely hot,'' he said. ``When you're trading your 2s for their 3s, that makes it tough on you.''
Radford made a game of it in the second half and was four points down after a Corey Reed jumper with 8:16 left. But Liberty pulled away.
The Flames went on a 7-0 tear before Eric Parker's dunk broke the spell.
``We played hard and we played tough, but we just didn't have enough at the end,'' Walker said.
He may have lacked some legs down the stretch, playing 39 of 40 minutes.
``We couldn't get him any rest,'' Bradley said. ``We expended too much energy in the comeback.
``You can't fall behind 17 points early and expect to win.''
Radford (14-12, 8-6) earned the third seed in the tournament and will play No.6 North Carolina-Greensboro at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Vines Center. Liberty, the second seed, takes on Winthrop at 8 p.m.
Top-seeded North Carolina-Asheville spars Maryland-Baltimore County in one game and Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina meet in the other opening-round matchup.
Saturday, Larry Jackson and Marcus White each scored 18 points for Liberty.
``We've got a veteran group here,'' said Flames coach Jeff Meyer, ``and to their credit they've learned to make plays that enable us to go over the top in game situations.''
NOTE: please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 67 linesby CNB