Radford Steals Game Over WVU in Final Second, 66-65

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Radford guard DaQaun Smith nailed a mid-range shot in the final second to give the Highlanders the 66-65 win over West Virginia.

WVU G RaeQuan Battle made his season debut with the Mountaineers after missing the first nine games as ineligible and the UMass game with an illness. WVU interim HC Josh Eilert mentioned that Battle returned to practice earlier in the week. Battle was first seen warming up an hour before the game and Eilert started the Montana State transfer. Battle’s highly anticipated debut finally came against Radford (10-4).

Battle finished with 29 points and five rebounds.

Despite connecting on 14-threes vs. UMass over the weekend, West Virginia (4-7) was ice cold from the perimeter, shooting 4-of-21 (19%).

West Virginia trailed by six early in the second half before Quinn Slazinski and Battle scored on back-to-back baskets to gain momentum. WVU didn’t secure majority of momentum until Noah Farrakhan and Kerr Kriisa hit back-to-back threes with 6:36 to go.

Battle’s teammate and fellow multi-time transfer, Farrakhan, produced in his second career game for West Virginia. Farrakhan made his season debut vs. UMass in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic and continued to showcase his play on Wednesday. The 6-foot-1 transfer from Eastern Michigan recorded 16 points on 70% shooting.

At halftime, Battle and Farrakhan combined for 22-of-28 (78.5%) first-half points for WVU.

West Virginia has been out-rebounded by 30 in the previous four games before Radford. The Highlanders pulled down 46 rebounds, compared to WVU’s 38.

This was the first game without starting center Jesse Edwards. It was announced on Monday that Edwards would miss about four weeks with a fractured right wrist. Edwards is averaging 14.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks through 10 games.

Former WVU G Darris Nichols currently serves as the head coach for Radford. Nichols is in his third season with the Highlanders with a career record of 41-37.

West Virginia will have a couple of days off until they host Toledo on Saturday afternoon at the WVU Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.