Dialed-in 3-point shooting lifts Radford past Morgan State to start 2023 Cancun Challenge

RADFORD 82, MORGAN STATE 72

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MX — Radford kicked off the 2023 Men’s Cancun Challenge by shooting 11-for-17 from 3-point range (65 percent) against Morgan State, with four Highlander players reaching double figures in scoring.

The Highlanders (3-3) will face Northern Colorado on Wednesday for the Mayan Division championship of the event, held at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. Kenyon Giles scored 18 points for Radford; Chander Turner added 17 points and Justin Archer came through with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Radford used an 8-0 late in the first half to push its lead to 37-23 before Morgan State cut into the margin with six points in the final minute.

In the second half, the Bears (2-4) moved within 48-44 with 14 minutes to go, and then worked back to just a 68-64 deficit on two free throws by Winston Tabbs with 7:26 remaining. Morgan State then went three minutes without scoring, and a 3-pointer from Truth Harris pushed Radford to a 73-64 lead at the 4:43 mark.

Giles iced the game with a 3-pointer at 2:190 to make it 78-68. Radford entered the contest shooting just over 31 percent as a team from 3-point range.

Tabbs had a career-high 31 points for Morgan State, and Will Thomas scored 15 points. The Bears will play Chicago State in the Mayan Division third-place game on Wednesday.

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