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ROCK HILL, SC— The men's basketball team will look for back-to-back league wins as it heads to Radford, VA to take on Radford this Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Dedmon Center.

The Eagles have won two of their last three games and look for back-to-back wins for the first time since December.

To do so, Winthrop will take on a Highlander team that is also winners in two of the last three games.

During Winthrop's four-game losing streak to begin the new year, the team seemed to be letting the games get away over the final 10-12 minutes of the game. Over the last three games, Winthrop's numbers have improved and twice have held strong for the win.

In the final 10 minutes of the last three games, Winthrop is outscoring its opponents on an average of 16.0 to 14.7, which includes a loss at Campbell after taking a three-point lead with less than five minutes remaining. The Eagles increased their shooting percentage down the stretch, but the biggest difference is the defensive side of the ball. In the four-game losing streak, opponents shot 51 percent from the field and 54 percent behind the arc in the final 10 minutes. In the last three games, opponents are shooting 39 percent. Gardner-Webb opened up the second half 7-for-9 from the field and finished 4-for-16 the rest of the way.

So far the Eagles are 2-5 in the month of January and have an opportunity to finish the month at .500 with three games remaining.

Sophomore guard Andre Smith had one assist to four turnovers in the game against the Runnin' Bulldogs, but more than made up for it with 4-for-6 shooting from the field and 14 points to go along with three steals. His final steal came with 30 seconds left as Gardner-Webb was looking to make it a one possession game. The three steals matched his career-high in a game and his 14 points were the most he's scored in a Big South Conference game. He's now averaging 8.5 points per game and is 7-for-15 (5-for-9 behind the arc) in the last two games.

The team's leading scorer remains sophomore Derrick Henry at 11.3 points per game as he is coming off a five point performance but it was junior Christian Farmer, returning to form after his injury, as he picked up the slack offensively. Farmer entered the game at the 12:18 mark of the first half and on his first offensive possession he pulled up for three well behind the line and drained the three while being fouled in the process. Farmer completed the four-point play to put the Eagles ahead 11-7. Farmer finished with 13 points on 4-for-5 shooting.
Winthrop also had a presence inside as sophomore James Bourne tied his career-high 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting and pulled down six boards.

Winthrop remains second in defensive scoring in the Big South at 61.8 points per game and will face a Radford team scoring 68.4 points per game (7th in the league) and allowing 68.3 points (also 7th in the league).

Radford is 9-11 overall on the year, 3-3 in the Big South and is coming off a 69-60 road loss at Campbell on Wednesday. The Highlanders had won their previous two games, including a thriller at Gardner-Webb at the buzzer on an R.J. Price three.

Price, a sophomore guard, leads the way for the Highlanders at 14.3 points per game and has raised his average to 17.7 through six league games. Price is the most prolific three-point score in the Big South at 3.0 per game, which ranks in the Top 30 nationally. He's knocked down 54 on the year and is shooting 39 percent behind the arc. His average is up to 3.5 makes per game in league play.

Sophomore guard Javonte Green is averaging 13.4 points per game and 13.7 in Big South play. Green is more of a score-off-the-dribble guard that has attempted 94 free throws on the year (the most on the team). He also leads the team and the Big South in steals with 47 (2.35 per game) as Radford leads the league at 9.75 thefts per game. Green finishes at a high percentage (.502).

Sophomore forward Jalen Carethers and redshirt freshman Brandon Holcomb lead the Highlanders in the post. Carethers is averaging 3.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and a block per game off the bench. Holcomb is averaging 2.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game. Both are averaging a block or more per game in league play.

There is a lot of history in the series between Winthrop and Radford as they built a strong rivalry during the Eagles run of eight championships in 10 seasons. The all-time series is at 31-30 in favor of Radford, but Winthrop has won the last four meetings (2011 loss doesn't count due to NCAA sanctions). These two teams met in the Big South Championship games in 1999 and 2001. The series was dominated by Radford in the first 14 years as it led the series 20-9, but the Eagles went on to win 16 of the next 22 meetings. That included a 12-game win streak from 2003-2008. The first three games of the series, which started in 1985, took place in Radford and the Eagles didn't win their first home game against the Highlanders until Feb. 13, 1989. In total they've faced each other in three tournament title games (1988, 1999 and 2001).

Winthrop is 10-17 all-time at Radford and 26 of those games have been played in the Dedmon Center.