Ice-Cold Eagles Fall To Radford

Jan. 9, 2002   

RADFORD, Va. – Radford University (6-12 1-2) held Winthrop to four field goals and 16 percent shooting in the first half to avoid starting the Big South Conference season 0-3 for the first time in school history.  The game was the conference opener for Winthrop and drops the Eagles to 4-8 overall while Radford improves to 6-12.

Winthrop’s 48 points was the lowest output by a team against Radford since January 18, 1996, while the Eagles 23 percent shooting set a new Dedmon Center record for lowest field goal percentage by a team. Leading the way for the Highlanders was junior guard Raymond “Peanut” Arrington with 24 points, including five three-pointers. Correy Watkins added 16 points and a game high 14 rebounds for RU, while freshman David Popoola chipped in with a career high 15. Greg Lewis led the Winthrop (4-8, 0-1) attack with 13 points and 12 rebounds.  Winthrop was led by Greg Lewis with 13 points and 12 rebounds.  It was Lewis' sixth double-double of the season.  Marcus Stewart scored 11 points and grabbed 9 rebounds while Tyrone Walker added 10 points.

Radford took an early 12-5 lead, behind eight points by Arrington and six Watkins rebounds. The Highlanders added to that advantage by scoring the game's next 10 points for a 22-5 lead and limited Winthrop to only two field goals in the final 17:04 of the half to take a 41-15 lead at intermision.

Winthrop came out ready to play in the second half, pulling within eight (56-48), with six minutes to play, but the Highlanders held the Eagles scoreless the rest of the way to earn their first league victory of the season.