University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Dayton (Atlantic 10 Championship)
BOARDWALK EMPIRE: Spiders Win 2011 Atlantic 10 Title In Atlantic City
03/13/2011 | Men's Basketball
March 13, 2011
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Richmond won its first-ever Atlantic 10 title with a 67-54 victory over Dayton Sunday afternoon at Boardwalk Hall.
The Spiders, who finished third in the regular-season standings with a 13-3 league mark, avenged two of their conference losses to reach the title game (Rhode Island and Temple) and then defeated Dayton for the second time this season.
The Spiders improved to 27-7 on the season, setting a new school record for wins, passing the last year's team and the 1987-88 team. Richmond has won seven-straight, 11 of the last 12 and 14 of the last 16. Richmond has lost just two since Jan. 13.
Kevin Anderson was the first Spider to earn Most Outstanding Player honors with teammate Justin Harper joining him on the All-Championship team.
Anderson scored a game-high 23 points, his third straight 20-point game at the championship this year, his 14th of the season and 42nd of his career. Anderson now has six career 20-point games at the Atlantic 10 Championships, a new championship record. He scored 21 points against Rhode Island on Friday night, 22 points in the win over No. 24 ranked Temple on Saturday and 23 in the title game.
Harper scored 18 points, his 27th straight and 32nd overall double-figure scoring game of the year.
Kevin Smith scored 12 points, while Darrius Garrett had five points, nine rebounds and three blocks and Francis-Cedric Martel had five points and four rebounds. Dan Geriot led the Spiders with five assists.
Richmond will make its second straight and ninth overall NCAA appearance. It is just the second time in school history the Spiders have made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
MOONEY POSTGAME:
ANDERSON AND HARPER POSTGAME:
