Hicks, Polite help Radford avoid upset in Big South

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) Donald Hicks hit the tie-breaking 3-pointer with 34 seconds left, Ed Polite Jr. had a huge blocked shot with 14.6 to go and second-seeded Radford edged 10th-seeded Longwood 59-53 in the quarterfinals of the Big South Tournament on Thursday.

Longwood came out of a timeout with a minute left to tie the game at 53 on a Damarion Geter dunk. Hicks, a sophomore, answered from the right wing with his fifth 3-pointer on six attempts. B.K. Ashe missed a 3-pointer that Geter grabbed but his putback attempt was blocked from behind by Polite. Carlik Jones grabbed the loose ball and was fouled with 11.3 seconds to go.

Hicks finished with 16 points for the Highlanders (20-12), who face third-seeded Winthrop winner in Friday's semifinals. Polite and Jones both added 13 points.

Ashe and Charles Glover had 15 apiece for the Lancers (7-26), who ended a 12-game losing streak with a first-round win. Geter had 13 points.