University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
XAVIER
See-Saw Battle Goes Xavier's Way Down The Stretch
02/08/2006 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2006
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond battled back and forth with Xavier on Wednesday night, but the Musketeers used a 17-4 run midway through the second half on their way to a 63-51 victory in the Robins Center.
There were 19 lead changes over the first 26 minutes of the game, but Richmond's last lead came at 37-36 with 14:19 in the game. Justin Cage quickly responded with a jumper to give Xavier (14-6, 5-4 Atlantic 10) the lead for good with 14:07 left. Cage's jumper ignited a 17-4 run which included 11 of Stanley Burrell's 17 points.
"There is a way that we are going to win some games, and a formula that has worked to win games," Richmond head coach Chris Mooney said. "We just need to stick to that and follow that. When we don't or can't, then it makes it a little difficult for us."
Xavier's run opened up a 53-41 lead and the Spiders (11-11, 4-5 Atlantic 10) could get no closer than nine the rest of the way.
Richmond, which led 28-27 at the half, battled foul trouble which is a major obstacle for an already depleted team that uses an eight-man rotation.
"We're a deep team and Richmond generally only plays eight players," Xavier coach Sean Miller said. "We were hoping to drive more and get people in foul trouble to make the game in our favor. And early in the second half, I thought that really started to happen."
The Musketeers hit 14-of-23 field goals in the second half for 60.9 percent and shot 48.8 percent for the game, compared to 35.9 percent for the Spiders.
"They were able to bring some guys in and wear us out a little," Mooney said. "Our defense wasn't as good as it needed to be and they were able to score in the second half easier than most people have been able to."
Richmond sophomore Oumar Sylla scored a career-high 12 points, while junior Gaston Moliva reached double figures for the second-straight game with 10 points.
Xavier was led by Brian Thornton's 20 points, while Cage added 10.
Richmond scored the game's first seven points over 2:51 on a 3-pointer and two free throws by Sylla and a lay-up by Moliva. Thornton finally put the Musketeers on the board with a pair of free throws at 16:53. Thornton's free throws ignited a 12-3 Xavier run over the next 5:35 which included Xavier taking its first lead at 12-10 off two made free throws from Johnny Wolf.
XU and UR would battle back and forth over the remainder of the first half which included 10 lead changes and seven ties. Each team made the most of their first-half free throw opportunities as the Musketeers were 14-of-15 (.933) from the charity stripe while the Spiders converted on 9-of-10 (.900) from the line. The Spiders took a 28-27 lead into the locker rooms off a pair of free throws from Jermaine Bucknor, who finished with eight points, ending a streak of seven-straight games in double figures.
Richmond hits the road for two-straight games as it continues its brutal stretch of playing six of eight games away from home. The Spiders play at St. Bonaventure on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and then travel to Charlotte to play the 49ers next Wednesday.
