RADFORD -- The Radford University men's basketball team entered the Dedmon Center on Saturday riding the momentum of a double-digit victory over in-state rival Richmond.

But the Highlanders weren't reveling in it as they prepared to take on Division II West Virginia Wesleyan.

"We talked about staying focused and keeping our eyes on the next situation," Radford coach Byron Samuels said. "Our kids have responded very, very well. I used a phrase once ... 'Don't let the last game beat you' -- whether that's a loss or whether that's a win."

Radford won 89-64 in a game that featured a lackluster performance in the first half.

A 7-0 Radford lead after 2 ½ minutes became a 10-9 deficit on a driving layup by senior guard Rocky Manchin at the 14:40 mark.

The Bobcats (1-7) weren't done. Wesleyan went ahead by three 2 minutes later when Radford reserve Phillip Martin was called for goaltending after poking Dureyea Garnett's fast-break layup out of the cylinder.

Radford then outscored the Bobcats 13-2 over the next 4:45 to build a 24-16 lead.

But West Virginia Wesleyan, sparked by a pair of 3-pointers from Manchin and a trey from Jared Chafin, trimmed the Radford lead to 33-30 with 4:17 left in the first half.

Radford went to the break clinging to a modest 42-36 lead despite shooting 60 percent from the field and getting 17 first-half points from leading scorer Chris Oliver.

"We just came out a little dead," said Oliver, who was 13-for-18 from the field with 30 points. "They came out and took it to us in the first half."

Samuels found some positives in the situation, however.

"I wasn't unhappy. Give West Virginia Wesleyan an awful lot of credit," he said. "They were quick, they did some things offensively and just driving the basketball.

"We couldn't guard them off the dribble. ... I thought we played hard and I thought we played together. ... The one thing I just didn't want to do is let our guys know that I was panicked because we were only up six at the half."

Before Radford reserve Martell McDuffy hit a 3-pointer less than 4 minutes into the second half to make the score 54-44, the Highlanders never led by double digits.

It didn't take nearly as long for Radford (4-5) to double its lead.

Freshman and Roanoke Catholic alumnus Phillip Martin scored all of his career-high six points in the second half and sophomore guard Kenny Thomas drained three of his game-high five 3-pointers to push the Radford lead to as many as 27 down the stretch.

Andy Chelcher's 20 points led the way for the Bobcats.

Thomas, Amir Johnson and Reggie McIntyre joined Oliver in double figures for Radford.

"We can't stop people from scoring right now," said Bobcats coach Bill Lilly, a former Radford assistant of 15 years who coached against his old school Saturday for the first time. "Last year, we struggled and we got better towards the end because we got better defensively. ... We've got to get better defensively again."

WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN

Chelcher 8-10 4-4 20, Smith 1-5 1-2 3, Manchin 6-8 0-0 14, Lucas 2-6 2-2 6, Garnett 1-10 1-4 3, Price 0-1 0-0 0, Batson 0-0 0-0 0, Stupnianek 0-0 0-0 0, Mason 1-2 0-0 2, Hoehner 1-3 0-0 2, Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Chafin 4-8 2-2 12, Creighton 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 25-57 10-14 64.

RADFORD (4-5)

Oliver 13-18 4-5 30, McIntyre 3-9 4-4 10, McDuffy 2-5 0-0 5, Johnson 6-9 0-0 14, Thomas 5-8 5-6 20, Dixon 0-1 2-3 2, Wilder 0-1 0-0 0, Martin 3-6 0-4 6, Hall 1-2 0-0 2, Lynch-Flohr 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-59 15-22 89.

Halftime--Radford 42-36. 3-Point Goals--West Virginia Wesleyan 4-17 (Chafin 2-2, Manchin 2-3, Mason 0-1, Chelcher 0-1, Price 0-1, Lucas 0-3, Garnett 0-6), Radford 8-14 (Thomas 5-7, Johnson 2-4, McDuffy 1-1, McIntyre 0-2). Fouled Out--None. Rebounds--West Virginia Wesleyan 28 (Chelcher, Garnett, Lucas 4), Radford 35 (Martin, Oliver 9). Assists--West Virginia Wesleyan 16 (Garnett, Lucas 5), Radford 21 (McDuffy, McIntyre 5). Total Fouls--West Virginia Wesleyan 19, Radford 13. A--NA.