ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 11, 1997 TAG: 9702110098
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
Radford's Anthony Walker achieved a significant milestone Monday, but what he says he'll remember most is the score. After trailing by as many as 16 late in the first half, the Highlanders - and Walker - caught fire, beating Big South Conference foe Winthrop 82-70, thanks to a 33-13 run to open the second half.
Walker entered the game needing 12 points to become the second Highlander in history to surpass the 1,500-point plateau. Battling a strained ligament in each foot, a tentative Walker was held scoreless during the first 20 minutes of play.
``Anthony Walker ... I probably don't say enough about the guy,'' said Radford coach Ron Bradley. ``He has done it all for us for the past four years. He was hesitant shooting tonight with the two hurt [feet] and I told him at the half either to sit it out or play ball. What can I say?''
The senior guard exploded for 16 second-half points, moving his career total to 1,504, second only to Doug Day (1989-93) with 2,027.
``It's special,'' Walker said. ``Individual honors are always special, but they don't mean much if you don't win in the process. I've worked for four years, but if we don't walk out of here with a [Big South Conference] championship then it will still be disappointing.''
The win over Winthrop keeps that dream alive for the Highlanders. Radford (12-10, 6-4) is in a third-place tie with Charleston Southern behind league leader UNC Asheville and second-place Liberty.
Trailing Winthrop 38-33 at the half, Radford went on a tear, hitting 73 percent from behind the 3-point line in the final 20 minutes. Sophomore Leslie Ballard hit one, Walker and freshman Rian Everett added two each and junior Corey Reed had three.
``Coach told us at the half we had to get out there and cut into their lead,'' Walker said. ``We're a good 3-point shooting team, and when we're open, everyone feels confident. We were just knocking them down tonight.''
Leading 54-48, the Highlanders hit four 3-pointers in a span of three minutes, extending their lead to 66-53. Radford maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
``Radford had the ball 36 times in the second half and we only stopped them eight times - that was the difference in the game,'' Winthrop coach Dan Kenney said. ``Our whole philosophy was to keep them out of the paint. When they tossed the ball inside we doubled and they kicked it back outside and had great shooters waiting there. But they're not going to shoot that well all the time.
``It's a game of cat and mouse and tonight we were the mouse. And we got chewed up.''
Ballard, who ended a Radford first-half scoring drought of 7 minutes, 22 seconds with consecutive 3-pointers, led all scorers with a career-high 20 points. Eric Bowens and Reed added 16 and 15, respectively, for the Highlanders.
Junior Franklin Butts led the Eagles with 17 points and five boards. Winthrop junior forward Andrew McFalls, who burned Radford for 26 points a year ago, was held to four points on two of 10 shooting from the field.
``I think the key tonight was in the first half when Leslie Ballard and Rian Everett came off the bench and picked up the defensive intensity,'' Bradley said. ``Earlier this year I tried to develop a strong bench, and even though they don't often get a lot of playing time, they responded tonight.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 67 linesby CNB