University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
UNC-WILMINGTON
Men's Basketball Off To Best Start In 22 Years After Win Over UNCW
12/29/2009 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond (10-3) is off to its best start in 22 years and the third-best start in 75 years after pulling out a 66-64 win over UNC-Wilmington on Monday night in the Robins Center.
Junior Kevin Anderson scored all 24 of his points in the second half and sparked a comeback in the final five minutes as the Spiders improved to 7-0 in the Robins Center. Richmond has started 10-3 or better just five times in 98 seasons of men's basketball.
Senior David Gonzalvez scored 12 points and had four steals and sophomore Darrius Garrett had eight points, two dunks and three blocks. Junior Justin Harper grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and blocked three shots.
The Spiders won despite losing starter Ryan Butler to a mild concussion midway through the first half and having junior Dan Geriot limited due to a shoulder injury.
Richmond led by eight points less than four minutes into the second half, but UNCW used 55.2 percent second-half shooting to open up a 10-point lead with just 5:56 to play.
That is when Anderson really took the game over scoring 13 of his season-high 24 points in the final 5:06, started by an old-fashioned three-point play that cut the gap to 54-47.
The Spiders still trailed by seven with 2:53 left when full-court pressure forced four-straight UNCW possessions to end in turnovers and Richmond converted those turnovers into eight points to grab an 60-59 lead and bring the Robins Center crowd to its feet.
UNCW tied the game at 61 on two free throws by Darryl Felder with 1:30 left, after a missed three-pointer by Gonzalvez, junior Kevin Smith brought down the house with a two-handed follow-up dunk to put the Spiders back up two.
The Seahawks again tied the game at the foul line when Chad Tomko (12 points) had his shot blocked by Garrett, but was fouled when tracking down the loose ball.
Anderson was fouled on a drive and made both free throws to put the Spiders back on top 65-63. After another UNCW turnover, Gonzalvez made 1-of-2 free throws for a three-point lead and Richmond rebounded when Tomko tried to miss his second free throw on purpose.
Richmond's defense, held UNCW to 13 first-half points and despite the Seahawks getting hot in the second half, the Spiders forced 20 turnovers, while grabbing 11 steals. The Spiders have had more steals than turnovers in each of the last three games.
The Spiders have two more games this week, heading to Winston-Salem, N.C. for a New Year's Eve match-up with Wake Forest and wrapping up non-conference play on Saturday at Bucknell.
