Under the Radar Game of the Day: Winthrop at Radford

Winthrop at Radford, 7:00 PM Eastern, bigsouthsports.com/watch

The mid-point of the Big South regular season has come and gone and once again the conference appears to be a chaotic dogfight that may come down to the final week of the season.  Unlike prior seasons, when the conference tournament was played at a pre-determined location, the stakes are higher this year as the regular season champion will host the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds (and the highest remaining seed will host the championship game).  Heading into play tonight, Liberty, after defeating Presbyterian last night, holds a half game lead in the league standings at 9-2.  Tied for second at 8-2 are Winthrop and UNC-Asheville.  Asheville will be hosting Charleston Southern tonight while the Winthrop Eagles will be on the road, at Radford, in our Under the Radar Game of the Day.

Winthrop currently sits at 16-5 overall.  The Eagles had won 12 of 13 games before they were upset at home over the weekend by High Point.  Keon Johnson did have another strong game for the Eagles with 31 points while Xavier Cooks added 19.  The Eagles’ only other conference loss this season also came at home, when they fell to rival Radford 82-80 back on New Year’s Eve.  Radford (9-13 overall, 4-6 in conference) will be looking to pick up the season sweep today.  Caleb Tanner had 20 points in the earlier win and Justin Cousin added 19.  Cousin has been in double figures in 6 of his last 7 games, and will need another strong effort if he and his teammates are going to pick up another upset win tonight.