Bears Upset Radford in Madsen-Free Victory
Bears upset Radford in a 84-70 win despite missing head coach Mark Madsen, with assistant Adam Mazarei leading the squad to a conference-boosting victory.
The Bears captured an 84-70 victory over Radford on Wednesday night at Haas Pavilion, playing without head coach Mark Madsen. The win improved their conference standing and highlighted the squad’s ability to execute under pressure.
Coach Absence and Interim Leadership
The contest narrowed to a one-point margin with just over twelve minutes remaining, but the team pulled away in the final minutes. Mark Madsen missed the game because of a family emergency; assistant coach Adam Mazarei assumed head-coaching duties only hours before tip-off. Mazarei told reporters he expects Madsen to return for Sunday’s matchup against No. 10 Houston in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Shooting Surge Fuels Win
Freshman forward Nojus Indrusaitis recorded a career-high 30 points, connecting on six three-pointers. “My teammates were finding me and I was just getting them up,” Indrusaitis said. “I feel like that’s what I’ve been doing all fall and summer, so it felt good.” His scoring outburst helped the team build momentum after the early deficit.
The Bears attempted thirty-five three-point shots, making 17 for a 48.6% conversion rate, while converting twelve of twenty-four two-point attempts. This sharp shooting display pushed the lead beyond the opponent’s reach and allowed the bench to contribute valuable minutes.
Looking Ahead to Houston
The next game starts at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time, televised on The CW, and will be held at the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. “That’s one of the hardest-playing teams in the country,” Indrusaitis added. “Great coach [Kelvin Sampson]. Great system. So I’m super excited for the opportunity.” The upcoming contest promises a test against a top-ten program on a neutral site.
Center Lee Dort, the only returning starter from last season’s squad, sat out his second straight game with a sprained ankle; Adam Mazarei is hoping Dort will be available for Sunday’s game, but his status remains uncertain.
In the first half the Bears hit nine three-pointers, ending the period ahead forty-five to thirty-seven. Indrusaitis led with twelve points on three-for-four shooting, including two-for-three from beyond the arc. His efficiency set the tone for the second-half surge.
The starting lineup featured Jordan Ross, Nojus Indrusaitis, Jake Wilkins, Sammie Yeanay and Mantas Kocanas. Each contributed on both ends of the floor, with Ross providing perimeter defense and Kocanas securing rebounds.
The Cougars entered the season with a 94-55 win over La Salle. They finished 30-7 last season, reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament and fell 65-63 in the 2025 national championship.
Betting markets listed Cal as a 16.5-point favorite against Radford.
Radford, based in Virginia, opened the season with a 76-62 loss to San Francisco and was projected to finish sixth in the nine-team Big South after a 16-16 record last year.
