University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
La Salle
Spiders Fight Off Foul Trouble To Win Triple OT Thriller
01/09/2008 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2008
Box Score |
Notes
| SpiderTV Wrap-Up 
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Sophomore Dan Geriot scored a career-high 31 points and sophomore Ryan Butler scored nine of his 10 points in the final two overtimes, then set up senior Gaston Moliva's game-winning fastbreak dunk in Richmond's 75-74 triple-overtime victory over La Salle Wednesday.
The Spiders (8-6, 1-0 A-10) let a 15-point lead in the opening minute of the second half slip way, then erased a five-point deficit with five minutes to play to force overtime. Richmond did not trail in the first two overtimes, but La Salle was able to hang on each time.
In the third overtime Richmond fell behind 74-73 and La Salle had the ball with under a minute remaining. With a five-second differential between the game clock and the shot clock, La Salle was content on running the clock down, but Butler was able to knock the ball loose near half court, where freshman Kevin Anderson dove and tipped the ball up ahead.
Butler dove for the ball and saw a streaking Moliva on the left wing, tipping it to him. Moliva took two dribbles and slammed home a two-handed dunk to put the Spiders on top with 21 seconds left.
La Salle had two shots in the closing seconds, but missed both, as the Spiders won their fourth-straight for the first time since taking five in a row from Jan. 22-Feb. 5, 2005.
The Spiders fought off foul trouble as freshman Kevin Smith fouled out in regulation, and Gonzalvez and Geriot fouled out in the first overtime.
Despite missing the team's two top scorers and the Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Week in Smith, Richmond was able to pull the game out relying on a lineup of Anderson (who had four fouls), Butler, Kevin Hovde, Oumar Sylla and Moliva.
Geriot made 11-of-13 field goals, including 2-of-2 from three, to score a career-high 31 points. He fouled out with 2:23 left in the first overtime.
Butler made two three-pointers in the extra sessions and would finish the game just short of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. He also had four assists in a career-high 44 minutes.
Anderson would finish the game with 13 points, while Moliva had eight points, six rebounds and three blocks.
Rodney Green scored 23 points, Darnell Harris added 21 and Yves Mkongo Mbala had 11 for La Salle (4-9), which lost its fifth in a row.
The Spiders remain in Philadelphia to face Saint Joseph's on Saturday at 7 p.m. before returning to the Robins Center for a three-game homestand beginning with St. Bonaventure next Wednesday.
