University of Richmond Athletics
Men's Basketball to Host Montana State Saturday
03/13/2002 | Men's Basketball
March 13, 2002
One down ... The Richmond Spiders (20-13) moved into the next round of NIT play after posting a 74-67 overtime victory over Wagner College on Wednesday night at the Robins Center. There's no place like home as the Spiders will host Montana State Saturday. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
As was Wagner, Montana State is a first-time opponent for the Spiders. Saturday's meeting between the Fighting Bobcats and Richmond also marks the first between UR and a member of the Big Sky Conference. Montana State (20-9) finished 12-2 in conference place (regular season champions), falling to Montana, 70-68 in the tournament finals. Montana State defeated Utah State in the opening round of the NIT on Tuesday night, 77-69 on the road in Logan, Utah.
Montana State has won 17 of its last 20 games while Richmond has captured 17 of its last 25 contests. Spiders head coach John Beilein has now captured 20 plus wins in three of his five seasons at the helm.
ABOUT MONANTA STATE: School Name: Montana State University Location: Bozeman, MT Colors: Blue, gold Enrollment: 12,500 Arena: Worthington Arena (7,250) -Montana State's win at Utah State in the NIT's Opening Round gives the Bobcats 20 wins for the first time since 1996, and the third time in head coachMick Durham's tenure. -The win at Utah State was MSU's first-ever in the NIT, and was the Big Sky Conference's first since Boise State beat Utah 62-61 in 1987 -Big Sky MVP Jason Erickson (guard, so., Eagle River, AK) was named Honorable Mention All-America by the Associated Press on Monday. -The Bobcats have won 17 of their last 20. -MSU opponents have shot 50% or better in three of the last four halves.
