University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
at Charlotte
Charlotte's Second Half Spurt Costs Richmond
02/15/2006 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2006
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The University of Richmond men's basketball team was staying with Charlotte through the first 28 minutes and the momentum seemed to be going the Spiders way. Charlotte star Curtis Withers was on the bench with four fouls and the Spiders trailed by just six with just over 10 minutes to play.
But a three-point play by De'Angelo Alexander started a 17-4 that led the 49ers (15-9, 8-3 Atlantic 10) to a 64-47 victory on Wednesday night in Halton Arena.
"It was a six-point game midway through the second half and we had some chances to get it closer, but we made some costly mistakes," Richmond head coach Chris Mooney said. "We have such a small margin for error, we have to take advantage of our opportunities. When we make mistakes, it becomes very difficult on us."
The Spiders had defeated Charlotte 63-56 on Jan. 28 in the Robins Center, but haven't won in the five games since.
"They were definitely more aggressive tonight," Mooney said. "They really brought it to us right from the beginning and we were a little on our heels. They were definitely the aggressor tonight."
Charlotte's Leemire Goldwire scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, including four 3-pointers, to lead all scorers. Marcuse Bennett scored 14 points, while Withers finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.
No Spider reached double figures, but four players scored eight points or more. Junior Monty Sanders each scored nine points. Senior Kevin Steenberge scored eight points, while junior Peter Thomas had seven.
After scoring 23 points in the victory over Charlotte on Jan. 28, senior Jermaine Bucknor, Richmond's leading scorer, was held scoreless for the first time in almost a year. Bucknor was held scoreless on Feb. 16 in a loss at Saint Joseph's.
Richmond (11-13, 4-7 Atlantic 10) trailed by nine at the half, but used a 7-2 run with jumpers by Sylla and Steenberge, and a 3-pointer by Sanders, to pull within four at 33-29 with 13:58 to play.
Two free throws by Antwon Coleman and a dunk by Withers opened the lead back up to eight, but Moliva scored inside to cut the gap to 37-31 with 12:39 to play. After a missed lay-up by Charlotte, Withers was called for his fourth foul, sending him to the bench.
The Spiders' defense continued to stifle the 49ers, giving Richmond three chances to cut into the six-point deficit, but the results were two turnovers and a missed lay-up.
Charlotte took advantage of the second turnover with an old-fashioned three-point play. The 49ers then hit jumpers on five-straight possessions, three of them 3-pointers, to open up a 54-35 lead.
Richmond returns to the Robins Center for just its second home game in February on Saturday when they host No. 7 ranked George Washington. It will be Komen Night at the Robins Center as proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation to help support breast cancer research. Fans are encouraged to wear a pink shirt as the Spiders try to Pink Out the Robins Center.
