University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Saint Joseph's
Spiders' Win Streak Halted In Philly
01/12/2008 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The stat line from Saturday's Richmond-Saint Joseph's game was very similar in all but two categories, free throws and rebounding.
Saint Joseph's outscored Richmond 28-7 from the free throw line and doubled up the Spiders 36-18 in rebounding, scoring 18 second-chance points in an 81-63 victory on Saturday night at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.
Each team made 23 field goals and the Spiders made more three-pointers (10-7), but Saint Joseph's connected on 28-of-37 free throws compared to 7-of-10 for Richmond. The Spiders were whistled for 30 fouls, compared to 14 for the Hawks.
Each team came in on a four-game winning streak and it was Richmond that jumped out to an 11-4 lead in the games opening minutes. Saint Joseph's then exploded on a 25-3 run, highlighted by three three-pointers by Pat Calathes, to take a 29-14 lead. The Spiders closed the half on a 15-7 run with seven points from sophomore David Gonzalvez and trailed by just seven (36-29) at the half.
"We got back in there and cut the lead to seven and I thought we were in good shape," Richmond head coach Chris Mooney said.
Then rebounding did in the Spiders (8-7, 1-1 Atlantic 10) in the opening three minutes of the second half. Saint Joseph's (9-4, 2-0 A-10) grabbed offensive rebounds and turned them into second chance points on its first three possessions. A steal and a layup opened up a 15-point lead less than three minutes into the half and the Hawks never looked back.
"We've worked so hard to make rebounding better, but tonight it was pivotal," Mooney said. "They got the first three offensive rebounds of the second half and made the shots. If we handle that and do a little bit better, maybe we create a better game for a longer period of time."
Calathes scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Saint Joseph's. Rob Ferguson had 18 points, and Garrett Williamson a career-high 16 for the Hawks, whose five-game winning streak is the team's longest since March 2005.
Sophomores Ryan Butler and Dan Geriot each had 15 points for the Spiders, who had their four-game winning streak stopped. Butler tied a career-high with five three-pointers and was one short of his career high for points.
The Spiders return to the Robins Center to open a three-game homestand on Wednesday, when Richmond hosts St. Bonaventure at 7 p.m.
