University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
William & Mary
Men's Basketball Can't Catch William & Mary
12/31/2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2006
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WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The Richmond men's basketball team made its first five shots of the game and six of its first seven, but struggled shooting the ball after that in a 61-53 to William & Mary on Sunday at Kaplan Arena.
The Tribe (7-4) won its fourth-straight game and has won six of the last seven.
Richmond freshman Brian Morris led the Spiders in scoring for the second-straight game with 13 points and dished out five assists. Junior Drew Crank scored a career-high 11 points, making 5-of-6 field goals.
The Spiders had 10 points - eight of which came in the paint - just four minutes into the first half against William & Mary's man-to-man defense, but a switch to zone forced Richmond to shoot from the outside and despite being third in the Atlantic 10 in 3-point field goal percentage, the Spiders could not make the outside shot Sunday.
"In the second half I saw a lot of good things, we were competitive, but that stretch in the first half - maybe stretch isn't the word for it because it was longer - that really hurt us," Mooney said.
Richmond did not make a field goal over the last 14 minutes of the first half, sending the Spiders into the locker room with a 14-point deficit (27-13). A lay-up by freshman David Gonzalvez gave Richmond a 12-8 lead with 14:58 to play in the half, but the Spiders would miss their last 12 shots of the half.
"They had a great first five minutes against our man-to-man, so we probably went to zone a little faster than we would have liked to," William & Mary coach Tony Shaver said. "I thought our players did a nice job changing defenses and doing it effectively."
In the second half, William & Mary upped the lead to 17, but the Spiders were able to cut the gap to seven at 32-25 with 12:58 to play. An old-fashioned three-point play by Alex Smith stopped the momentum and the Spiders would never get closer.
Adam Payton led William & Mary with 13 points, Alex Smith had 12 and Laimis Kisielius added 11. The Tribe are off to their best start in 10 years at 7-4 on the season.
Richmond senior Peter Thomas scored eight points and tied a career-high with seven rebounds. Freshman Dan Geriot scored seven points, while red-shirt freshman Ryan Butler and freshman David Gonzalvez each had six points.
The Spiders play back-to-back road games for the first time this season when they head to Blacksburg to face Virginia Tech on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Richmond opens Atlantic 10 play on Saturday at home against Fordham at 1 p.m.
