www.roanoke.com/sports/college/wb/226303Short-handed Radford gets winThe Highlanders earn a victory without starters Lazar Trifunovic and Amir Johnson.
By Ray Cox
381-1672
RADFORD -- Not too bad for being down two starters.
With power forward Lazar Trifunovic out nursing a broken wrist and point guard Amir Johnson sitting for an unspecified "coach's decision," Radford University got some surprisingly mature play from a couple of freshmen and big man Art Parakhouski had a big second half to turn back Navy 76-65 in a college basketball season opener at the Dedmon Center on Friday night.
Parakhouski, a 6-foot-11 senior, played through a sore groin to record a double-double -- 18 points and 10 rebounds -- after intermission on the way to 20 points and 13 rebounds.
"I haven't practiced since Tuesday," he said. "I pulled my groin so I was in some pain the first half. The second half, I told myself that we need to win because they beat us last year at Navy. I play through pain. It just motivated me, this pain."
Radford held the Midshipmen to one basket over the last 3:31 while letting loose with an 18-2 closing barrage.
Point guard Evan Faulkner and fellow freshman guard Blake Smith started and distinguished themselves. Smith made a shot from just inside halfcourt to close the first 20 minutes, dunked at a crucial stage down the stretch and finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists and no turnovers in 33 minutes.
"I definitely did not [expect that]," said Smith, a 6-foot-4, 175-pound whip from Charlotte, N.C. "I just expected to come in and be a role player."
As for Faulkner, who stands 6-1 and hails from hoops-rich Eastern Kentucky, his contributions included five points, three assists and two rebounds in 37 minutes. The playing time startled his coach, Brad Greenberg.
"Wow, I didn't realize that," Greenberg said. "He's in shape. ... He was solid."
Similarly to Smith, Faulkner didn't play to his age and experience level, for sure.
"We're a little short-handed right now and guys gotta step up," he said. "We went with a couple of younger guys but that was good. That's a great experience for us when we're short-handed. We got some playing experience."
So how did that opening night go for you?
"Basketball's basketball," he said. "I've played the game my whole life just like the rest of these guys. Obviously the game's a little different, but basketball is still basketball. You've got to play the game and try not to think too much."
The Highlanders got a strong effort from senior Joey Lynch-Flohr inside. He came away with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Counting junior-college transfer Jeremy Robinson, another point guard who played 15 minutes, Radford really only went six deep. Senior Cole Wilder and Jamal Curry were in only briefly.
Navy was undersized but rugged. Six-for-17 shooting from 3-point range contributed to a nine-point lead in the first half by the Midshipmen. The figure was 3-for-11 after the break. Chris Harris scored 15 of his 21 from beyond the arc.
Another Midshipman, Jordan Sugars, a sophomore from Winchester, was sensational with 16 points and 13 rebounds in 36 minutes.
"We're going to be good in January and February," Greenberg predicted.
Johnson was convicted of petit larceny in August, but Greenberg said that was not why Johnson did not play Friday.
NAVY (0-1)
Veazey 0-2 0-0 0, Harris 7-24 2-4 21, Garcia 5-9 3-4 13, Avworo 2-9 1-5 5, Sugars 6-18 1-2 16, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Topercer 3-8 1-1 8, Brooks 0-0 0-0 0, Newsome 0-1 0-0 0, Wilson 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 24-74 8-16 65.
RADFORD (1-0)
Martin 3-7 1-2 7, Lynch-Flohr 8-15 5-6 21, Parakhouski 7-14 6-14 20, Faulkner 2-7 0-1 5, Smith 7-11 2-3 17, Robinson 1-5 2-5 4, Wilder 0-0 0-0 0, Curry 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 28-59 18-33 76.
Halftime--Navy 37-31. 3-Point Goals--Navy 9-33 (Harris 5-15, Sugars 3-10, Topercer 1-4, Garcia 0-2, Avworo 0-2), Radford 2-13 (Smith 1-3, Faulkner 1-5, Robinson 0-1, Parakhouski 0-1, Martin 0-3). Fouled Out--Veazey. Rebounds--Navy 45 (Sugars 16), Radford 50 (Parakhouski 13). Assists--Navy 13 (Avworo 8), Radford 12 (Faulkner, Smith 3). Total Fouls--Navy 27, Radford 16. Technicals--Parakhouski, Radford Bench. A--2,765.