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K.J. Garland scored 16 points for Asheville last Wednesday.

RADFORD, Va. — UNC Asheville shot just 14 percent from the field in the second half and made only five field goals as the Bulldogs fell at Radford 62-53 in Big South Conference action at the Dedmon Center last Wednesday night.

UNCA led 35-31 at halftime and was tied 45-45 with 11 minutes remaining, but could muster only two more field goals in the game and lost its fourth straight. The Bulldogs are 18-8 overall and 7-4 in the Big South Conference.

The Bulldogs were led by K.J. Garland and Vincent James with 16 points each. The Bulldogs were 5-of-36 from the field in the second half to finish at 14 percent. UNCA missed all 16 of its three-point attempts in the second period.

UNCA shot a season-low 31 percent (20-of-63) from the field for the game. The Bulldogs shot 55 percent in the opening half (15-of-27).

Radford (9-17, 4-7 BSC) was led by Kenny Thomas with 15 points. Martell McDuffy added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

“We played hard but it was one of those nights that we just couldn’t score, especially in the second half,” UNCA coach Eddie Biedenbach noted after the game. “We missed lay-ups, three-pointers, free throws, open shots and it adds up to a tough loss.

“Our defense was very good in the second half and I was glad to see that,” Biedenbach added. “Our defense allowed us to stay in the game right until the end, but when you don’t score, you’re not going to win.”

The Bulldogs got a free throw from Vincent James to tie the game at 45-45 with 11 minutes left, but then did not score for the next six minutes. Radford scored only six points during the UNCA drought, but it was enough to have a 51-45 lead.

UNCA got two free throws from Reid Augst and a free throw from James to cut the lead to 51-48 at the 5:10 mark, but again could not score for another four minutes when Bryan Smithson scored to cut the Radford lead to 55-50.

The Bulldogs could get no closer than five the rest of the way.