FAIRLAWN, Va. (Interstat) — The Radford Highlanders used a dominant first-half offensive explosion and a balanced scoring attack to cruise past the visiting West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats 99-61 in a non-divisional men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday night at the D.N. Dedmon Center.

Radford improved to 2-0 on the young season, while West Virginia Wesleyan, a non-divisional opponent, struggled to keep pace from the opening tip.

The Highlanders seized control early, building a commanding 51-27 lead by halftime. Their offense was firing on all cylinders, shooting 40 for 71 from the floor for the game and connecting on 11 three-pointers. Radford’s efficiency was staggering, scoring 99 points from just 76 possessions for an elite offensive rating of 130.8. They also dominated the glass, pulling down 19 offensive rebounds which led to numerous second-chance opportunities.

Six Highlanders scored in double figures, led by Jaylon Johnson with 16 points. Dennis Parker added 15, while Frederik Erichsen and Tyson Brown contributed 13 and 11 points, respectively. Mari Jordan and Lukas Walls each chipped in 11 points, with Walls grabbing seven rebounds. Del Jones orchestrated the offense with a game-high eight assists.

West Virginia Wesleyan was led by Nick Davis, who found success from beyond the arc, but the Bobcats could not counter Radford’s relentless pressure or offensive firepower. The Bobcats scored 34 points in the second half, an improvement over their first-half output, but were unable to make a significant dent in the large deficit.

Radford’s defense was equally impactful, recording 11 steals and forcing 18 Bobcat turnovers, which they frequently converted into easy transition baskets. The Highlanders also protected the rim effectively, registering three blocks.

A crowd of 1,549 watched as Radford never trailed, opening the game with a Mari Jordan tip-in and maintaining a double-digit lead for nearly the entire contest. The win sets up a challenging road test for the Highlanders, who travel to face North Carolina on Tuesday.

Radford’s next home game is against Wright State on Nov. 15 as part of a multi-team event in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.