ESPNU has selected the Gardner-Webb at Radford University men’s basketball contest scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 1 as its Big South Wildcard Selection broadcast, the Big South Conference office announced Wednesday morning. Game time is set for 7 p.m., inside the Dedmon Center with Matt Schick (play-by-play) and Paul Biancardi (analyst) on the call from courtside.
The game will mark Radford’s fifth straight season playing on ESPNU including the 2014-15 campaign when the Highlanders traveled to Boiling Springs, N.C. for a national television bout with the Runnin’ Bulldogs. It will also be the second straight game for the Highlanders to be broadcast nationally following a stream on the Stadium Network on Jan. 27 when they host Charleston Southern.
Fans that tune in on Feb. 1 will be treated to a clash between two of the league’s top teams. The Highlanders currently sit alone atop the standings at 5-1 while the Runnin’ Bulldogs are just behind at 4-2. Both teams are beating all expectations set for them this year, with the Big South preseason poll tabbing them to finish fifth and seventh respectively.
Radford and Gardner-Webb have met once already this season with the Runnin’ Bulldogs handing the Highlanders their first Big South loss of the season, 54-59. Radford battled back from a slow start to make it a close game late, led by junior forward Ed Polite Jr.’s 15 points, nine rebounds and three steals.
In Big South play this season, Polite Jr. ranks first in rebounding (9.2), first in field goal percentage (60.6-percent), second in steals (2.3) and third in points per game (19.7). Redshirt freshman Carlik Jones has also been a major boon for the Highlanders this season, garnering five Big South Freshman of the Week awards already.
GWU is led by senior guard Liam O’Reilly, who ranks fifth in Big South-play scoring at 17.8 points per game thanks to a 46.3-percent clip from 3-point range. As a team, the Runnin’ Bulldogs are holding opponents to just 67.3 points per game.
The Gardner-Webb at Radford game is the second of four Big South ESPNU Wildcard broadcasts this season. ESPNU also has Wildcard broadcasts scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 15 at 9 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m., and those selections will be determined 21 days in advance.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at radfordtickets.com or by calling the Radford Athletics ticket office at 831-7889. Remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the ticket office inside the Dedmon Center on game day.
Radford University students will be admitted free of charge as normal. A game day shuttle to the Dedmon Center will be available to all fans starting one hour prior to tip-off and will run through 30 minutes after the conclusion of the contest.
–RU Athletics
