University of Richmond
VCU
Richmond Falls Short At VCU, 58-50
12/11/2004 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 11, 2004
RICHMOND, Va. - An 11-3 run in the second half brought Richmond within one point, but VCU converted key baskets down the stretch, scoring the final seven points en route to a 58-50 triumph in the First Market Bank City Championship played at the Siegel Center on Saturday night.
The Spiders began their comeback march when sophomore Courtney Nelson, who engineered the run, dished a behind-the-back pass to Moliva who slammed it home and brought the visitors with six.
Richmond was within four (46-42) when senior Jamaal Scott scored two of his team-high 13 on a lay-in at 9:21. Scott also pulled down a team-best nine boards.
Nelson, who finished with seven points, converted a finger roll and then set up junior Kevin Steenberge for a dunk that made the score 49-46 at the 7:06 mark.
A Calvin Roland layup gave VCU a five-point advantage before Nelson converted two free throws and another layup to close the gap to 51-50. Redshirt freshman Andres Sandoval, making his collegiate debut, dished one of his team-high five assists on the Nelson layup.
Richmond had a chance to pull ahead but couldn't and a three-pointer from Alexander Harper with 1:01 on the clock broke the Rams' scoring slump and propelled them to their second consecutive home victory in the series. VCU shot just 28.6 (8-for-28) from the floor in the second half.
Steenberge finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. VCU was led by Nick George who scored a game-high 15 points.
NOTES: Richmond failed to make a three-pointer for the first time in 232 games (0-for-6) ... The last time the Spiders did not convert a trey was Jan. 27, 1997 in a 75-65 victory against James Madison (0-for-9) ... VCU now holds a 35-24 advantage in the series, 3-1 in the Siegel Center ... Sandoval also scored two points and added seven rebounds in 26 minutes ... The Spiders out-rebounded the Rams 43-40 ... Richmond committed 15 turnovers in the first half, just four in the second ... Junior Jermaine Bucknor did not play because of a thigh contusion.
