FAIRLAWN, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a stunning reversal of momentum, Del Jones drove the length of the court and scored a layup with one second remaining to lift Radford to an 85-83 victory over Longwood in a Big South Conference men’s basketball thriller on Saturday afternoon at the D.N. Dedmon Center.

The Highlanders, who led by as many as 17 points in the first half, squandered nearly all of that advantage under a relentless second-half assault from the Lancers before Jones delivered the final, decisive blow in front of a crowd of 1,259.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final 23 seconds. With the score tied at 83, Radford’s Jaylon Johnson inbounded the ball to Jones near the Radford baseline. The 6-foot-3 guard from Arlington, Virginia, used a high screen and then simply outran the Longwood defense in a straight-line dash to the opposite basket. He elevated and laid the ball in cleanly as the clock expired, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and capping a 25-point performance.

That dramatic finish was the culmination of a second half dominated by Longwood’s fightback. Radford entered halftime with a commanding 53-36 lead, having shot 64% from the field and converted 10 Longwood turnovers into 18 points. The Lancers looked out of sorts, unable to contain the Highlanders’ efficient offense led by Jones and Lukas Walls, who finished with 17 points.

The entire complexion of the game shifted after the break. Longwood tightened its defense, holding Radford to just 32 second-half points on 32% shooting. Simultaneously, the Lancers’ offense, led by guard Redd Thompson, found its rhythm. Thompson, a Richmond, Virginia native, scored 19 of his 21 points after halftime, igniting a 28-9 run that brought Longwood all the way back.

Thompson’s third 3-pointer of the half, assisted by Jacoi Hutchinson with 15 seconds left, tied the game at 83 and seemed to force overtime. It was the culmination of a half where Longwood outscored Radford 47-32, showcasing a level of offensive efficiency that had been absent early. The Lancers finished the game with an offensive rating of 126.6, a testament to their sharp second-half execution.

Despite the loss, Longwood’s resilience was notable. They dominated the glass, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds to Radford’s five, which led to 14 second-chance points. Elijah Tucker was a force inside for the Lancers, contributing 17 points and 11 rebounds. Johan Nziemi added 10 points and five assists.

For Radford, the victory was preserved by its ability to capitalize on mistakes and get to the free-throw line. The Highlanders scored 23 points off 12 Longwood turnovers and attempted 31 free throws, making 20. Johnson orchestrated the offense with 10 points and seven assists, while Walls’ scoring provided crucial support for Jones.

The statistical battle was a tale of two halves. Longwood finished shooting 51.7% from the field and 47.8% from 3-point range. Radford countered with 52.8% shooting overall but a more modest 37.5% from deep. The Lancers’ 12-of-18 performance at the charity stripe ultimately left points on the board in a tight contest.

With the win, Radford improves to 11-9 overall and evens its conference record. The Highlanders, who were projected with a 68.5% probability to win and installed as 5-point favorites, next travel to face Winthrop on Wednesday.

Longwood falls to 10-10 after seeing a two-game winning streak snapped. The Lancers, who covered the spread in the loss, will look to rebound at home against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday.

The game’s total of 168 points surpassed the over/under line of 158.5, driven by the explosive first-half pace and the high-scoring conclusion. In the end, it was a single, unimpeded dash by Del Jones that decided a game which, for 39 minutes and 59 seconds, had been a story of two distinct and contrasting halves of basketball.