University of Richmond
UAB
Richmond Bests UAB, 72-68
12/04/2002 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2002
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UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. -Junior center Eric Zwayer (Sebring, Fla.) registered his second career 'double-double' to power Richmond to a 72-68 win over University of Alabama at Birmingham on Wednesday evening at the Robins Center. Zwayer, who missed the majority of last season due to injury, finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Richmond improves to 3-1 while UAB drops to 3-2.
Four other Spiders scored in double figures with senior Jeff Myers (Rockford, Ill.) pacing Richmond with 16 points and a career-high five three-pointers. Junior forward Tony Dobbins (Mitchellville, Md.) added 14 while sophomore Jamaal Scott (Phoenix, Az.) and Mike Skrocki (Howell, N.J.) chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively. Blazers guard Eric Bush led all scorers with 22 points.
"It was a game where we learned a lot of lessons," said Richmond head coach Jerry Wainwright. "We are in the process of becoming a good team."
The Blazers scored the first basket of the game, a Morris Finley triple 14 seconds into the contest. However, UAB would embark on a 7:24 scoring drought- not netting its next field goal until the 12:04 mark. Richmond exploded for 18 straight points during that span. UAB closed the gap to 11 (21-10) but the Spiders would respond. Two consecutive three-pointers from Myers would extend the lead to 18 (29-11) with 6:27 remaining in the first stanza. Bush scored 10 of the next 13 points for UAB to diminish the Richmond lead to single digits (33-24). UAB out-scored Richmond, 11-2, in the final 2:32 of the half to pull within three at the break (38-35).
The visitors took their first lead since the opening basket at the 15:17 mark on a Richard Jones 16-foot jumper. The two teams traded buckets before UAB went on a 12-2 tear to build a nine-point advantage. An Eric Bush triple at the 6:02 point gave the Blazers a 63-54 lead. The Spiders closed the gap as Dobbins netted six of the Spiders' next eight points to tie the contest at 63-63 with 4:10 left in the contest. A Kevin Steenberge layup with 1:23 remaining gave UR a four-point edge. On the ensuing possession, UAB would cut that lead to one on a Jeff Collins' triple. The Spiders would convert 3-of-6 free throws down the stretch to ensure the 72-68 victory.
"I don't feel like we were lucky to win. We played with a ton of energy in last six minutes," Wainwright added.
Richmond travels cross-town rival to VCU this Saturday, December 7 for a 7:30 matchup.
