University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
VCU
Spiders Fall To VCU In Farm Bureau Insurance Black & Blue Classic, 68-54
12/09/2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2006
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| Highlights
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond closed a 20-point deficit down to seven with four minutes to play, but the Spiders would not get any closer in a 68-54 loss to city-rival VCU in the Farm Bureau Insurance Black & Blue Classic on Saturday night in the Robins Center.
Richmond freshman guard David Gonzalvez kept the score close with his exciting play on offense and defense. Gonzalvez led the team in points with 17 and rebounds with seven, both totals career highs. He also contributed three blocks and a steal in 36 minutes.
"I think that David is the most physically ready freshman," said Spider head coach Chris Mooney. "I think that really helps him, but more than that, he's very competitive, he's a very smart player, he plays very hard. I think he's going to be really, really good."
The Rams (7-2) pushed out to an early lead in front of the 6,225 fans at the Robins Center. Each team showed a lot of energy on defense and held each other to under 35-percent shooting.
VCU redshirt freshman T.J. Gwynn provided a spark off the bench and the Rams entered halftime with a 24-19 lead. Gwynn finished the game with a team-high 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and 8-of-11 from the line.
The Spider offense picked up its intensity in the second half as Gonzalvez and fellow freshman Dan Geriot led the charge. During the final 20 minutes, Richmond shot 63.6 percent.
After VCU took its largest lead of the game, 53-33, with 8:07 remaining in the game, the Spiders reeled off a 13-0 run to pull right back within reach. Of the run's 13 points, Gonzalvez scored seven and Geriot added four.
A Gonzalvez lay-up with 4:09 left in the second half marked the end of an impressive stretch that pushed Richmond to within seven points of the Rams, 53-46. VCU put together one final run though to secure the victory, 68-54.
Geriot and senior forward Peter Thomas gave Gonzalvez support in battling against the Rams. Geriot and Thomas each finished with nine points and four rebounds.
The Spiders shot better from the floor than VCU and went 8-for-10 from the free-throw line compared to a 12-for-20 total for the Rams.
Richmond receives a long break for final exams before challenging in-state rival VMI at the Robins Center on Dec. 20. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
Following the contest against the Keydets, the Spiders will travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., for a showdown with Wake Forest on Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.
