Radford downs LIU Brooklyn in the first game of the NCAA Tournament

The Madness has begun. In the first game of the NCAA Tournament, the Radford Highlanders defeated the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds, 71-61, in Dayton.

The game between the Big South and NEC representatives did not disappoint. The Highlanders made great use of their athleticism and a great shooting night from Travis Fields Jr. (5-for-6, 3-for-3 from three, 13 points) off the bench, but LIU Brooklyn fought back to make the game interesting. It was a two-point game with less than five minutes to go, but Radford pulled away to win by 10 in the closing stages.

Radford started the game red-hot from the field and went on a 10-2 run after a nasty dunk from Ed Polite Jr.

That run stretched the Highlanders lead to 18-9, but LIU Brooklyn fought back as Radford’s offense ground to a halt. Raiquan Clark and Jashaun Agosto combined for 14 first-half points for the Blackbirds, erasing the Highlanders’ lead by halftime. Joel Hernandez canned a three to make it 30-28 before the interval.

The Blackbirds took a 38-37 lead early in the second half. However, Radford once again went on a big run fueled by Fields Jr. and Donald Hicks that put the Highlanders up 53-44. LIU Brooklyn once again chipped away to make it close down the stretch, but Radford’s final surge put the finishing touches on the win.

Radford, a 16 seed, advances to play No. 1 seed Villanova in Pittsburgh on Thursday.