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Winthrop survives late Radford push, escapes 80-78 to keep streak rolling

Winthrop edged Radford 80-78 on Feb. 5, 2026, extending its winning streak and handing the Highlanders a narrow home loss. The Eagles’ ability to close a tight game kept them moving forward while Radford was left to rue missed chances in a two-point finish.

James O'Brien
2 min read

Winthrop’s momentum didn’t break on Thursday night. Neither did its streak.

The Eagles (16-8) held off Radford (14-10) 80-78 on Feb. 5, 2026, turning a tense finish into another win and pushing their current run to five straight. Radford, coming in with a 14-10 record and a WWLLW stretch, had the home side within one possession late but couldn’t flip the result.

How it happened

This game lived in the margins. Winthrop controlled just enough of the final stretch to protect a slim lead, and Radford’s late pressure never quite produced the decisive swing. With no overtime, the difference ultimately came down to one made basket in a two-point game.

The turning point

In a matchup that stayed within striking distance to the end, Winthrop’s closing execution was the separator. The Eagles found the points they needed to stay in front while Radford’s comeback effort stalled just short of the finish line.

What it means

Winthrop

At 16-8, Winthrop continues to stack wins and reinforce its current form (WWWWW). Winning close on the road is a different kind of proof, and this one — a two-point escape — adds to the Eagles’ growing confidence as the season pushes deeper into February.

Radford

Radford drops to 14-10 after letting a winnable, one-possession game slip away. The Highlanders have been uneven lately, and this result underscores the thin line between a strong home win and a frustrating loss when the margin is one or two plays.

Up next

Winthrop leaves with an 80-78 win and a five-game streak intact. Radford leaves with the kind of loss that lingers — not because it was lopsided, but because it was right there.

Source: API-Sports Basketball

Expert Analysis

"Winthrop came up one possession short in an 80–78 finish, the kind of game where a single defensive stop or clean inbound can decide everything. In a two-point loss, the details swing it—late-game execution and getting a quality look on the final trip mattered as much as anything that happened over the first 39 minutes."