University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
LEHIGH
Richmond Rolls Past Lehigh In Opener
11/13/2009 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Kevin Anderson led four Spiders in double-figures as Richmond pulled away from Lehigh and won its fifth-straight season-opener, 65-53, Friday night at the Robins Center. Anderson scored 16 for the Spiders, who remain home to host VMI Monday at 7 p.m.
Anderson netted 14 of his 16 points after halftime, while Justin Harper scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Junior Dan Geriot, returning from missing last season due to a knee injury, had 11 points and six rebounds. Senior David Gonzalvez also had 11 points for Richmond (1-0), which out-scored Lehigh (0-1) 40-28 in the second half.
Harper's all-around performance also included a team-leading seven rebounds and four steals in 31 minutes. Anderson did his damage on seven-of-13 shooting from the field. The junior guard pulled down three boards, had three steals, two blocks and two assists.
The Spiders got quality minutes from its two true freshman -- Greg Robbins had two blocks, a steal, three boards and two points in 11 minutes, while Darien Brothers had two points.
Lehigh scored five-straight points midway through the second-half and opened a four-point lead at 41-37 with 12:59 left.
It was all Richmond after that. Thanks to four points each from Geriot and Harper, the Spiders sprinted out on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes and never trailed again.
The defense, which forced 26 turnovers in the game, limited Lehigh to just 12 points over the game's final 13 minutes and held the Mountain Hawks to 34 percent shooting. Richmond feasted on the Mountain Hawk miscues and held a 30-13 edge in points off turnovers and a 10-0 advantage in fast-break points.
"I thought our defense was very, very good," Richmond head coach Chris Mooney said. "We we forced a lot of turnovers, our pressure on the ball was tremendous, especially in the second half."
But Richmond could not get things going offensively until the game's final 10 minutes and Lehigh led for much of the first half, opening its margin to as many as nine when C.J. McCollum's trey at the 12:08-mark made it 15-6. McCollum finished with 12 and Marquis Hall added a team-high 14, thanks to three-of-five shooting from long range.
But the Spiders chipped away and kept the Mountain Hawks within striking distance. Richmond scored the final four points of the opening period and the game went to halftime knotted at 25.
"I thought on offense, we pressed," Mooney said. "I don't think we found a good rhythm. I thought each guy was trying to create a spark, whether it be a three-pointer, a drive or in transition. We didn't move the ball well and I would think that's what we are kind of known for."
The lead changed hands seven more times in the second half, before the Spiders decisive 10-0 run sealed the deal.
The Spiders host VMI on Monday night at 7 p.m. in the Robins Center.
