Junior forward Ed Polite, Jr. nearly posted a double-double to lead a complete effort by the Radford University men’s basketball team as they defeated NCAA Division II West Virginia State, 106-81, in exhibition action Friday night inside the Dedmon Center.
The preseason All-Big South selection picked up where he left off last season, scoring 15 points, while grabbing nine rebounds and nabbing six steals to stuff the stat sheet in his first action of the season. He added two assists and a block for good measure. Flirting with a double-double has become common for Polite, Jr., who recorded 14 across the 2016-17 season to rank 32nd nationally.
Junior guard Caleb Tanner (14), redshirt-freshman guard Carlik Jones (12), sophomore forward Devonnte Holland (11), redshirt-senior guard Justin Cousin (10) and senior center Randy Phillips (10) all joined Polite, Jr. in double figure scoring.
It took no time for the Highlanders to find their groove, coming right out of the gate with a 10-0 run. Just two and a half minutes into the game, sophomore guard Donald Hicks found Cousin for a wide-open three to cap the early push.
A fast-paced approach on the offensive end and quick feet on the defensive end gave the Highlanders a 26-9 advantage halfway through the first half. That lead grew to 51-29 at halftime behind a 59.4 percent clip from the floor with a perfect 6-for-6 showing from the charity stripe.
Radford went on to take complete control of the game in the second half, pouring in another 55 points. The Highlander lead reached its apex with just under four minutes left to play
While unofficial, the Highlanders’ 106-point effort marked the first time they’ve eclipsed the 100-point mark in a game since 2015.
Radford head coach Mike Jones said it was really good to get back on the floor after such a long hiatus. “We’ve been beating each other up all preseason so it was nice to get out there and face someone else for a change. We’ll take the positives and the learning moments from tonight and get better each day as we prepare for our season opener next Friday.”
With a preseason tune-up now in the books, the Highlanders will set their sights on the season opener next Friday, November 10th. The Hurricanes of Georgia Southwestern will make their way to the Dedmon Center for a 7 p.m. tip.
–RU Athletics
