Spiders Furious Rally Forces OT, But Boston College Prevails, 78-73

Saturday, December 23

Chestnut Hill, MA

1:00 PM

University of Richmond

2-10

Boston College

10-3

OT 1

Richmond

Boston College

Spiders Furious Rally Forces OT, But Boston College Prevails, 78-73

12/23/2017 | Men's Basketball

Box Score LISTEN: Coach Mooney Post Game

When Nick Sherod's fourth three-pointer of the game swished through the hoop with 71 seconds remaining in regulation, the Spiders seemed on the verge of doing what the number-one-ranked Duke Blue Devils couldn't do two weeks ago: beat the Boston College Eagles on their home floor.

Sherod's shot gave Richmond a 64-63 lead with just over a minute remaining in the game. On the ensuing possession, the Eagles answered with a three of their own to retake the lead. BC would survive, outlasting the Spiders 78-73 in overtime Saturday at Conte Forum.

After the game, head coach Chris Mooney called it his team's "best defensive effort of the season." He added, "We had a lot of hustle plays. That was great to see from a young team that hasn't had much success."

Boston College (10-3) started the game on an 11-1 run and led by 17 when Luca Kraljevic knocked down the Eagles sixth three-pointer of the game with 7:35 remaining in the first half to go up 31-14.

But the Spiders battled back, using a pair of Sherod three-pointers and nine points from Grant Golden to close the gap to 39-33 at halftime.

Boston College extended its lead to 12 midway through the second half, but Richmond (2-10) used a 14-3 run to pull within one with 4:23 remaining in the game.

With just over three minutes left, Golden pinned a Jerome Robinson shot against the backboard, and Sherod pushed the ball up the court to Jacob Gilyard for a layup and the foul, giving Richmond its first lead of the game at 61-59 with three minutes to play.

The Eagles answered with four straight points before Sherod's fourth and final three-pointer of the game put the Spiders up 64-63 with just over a minute to play.

But BC answered with a three of its own and the Spiders needed Khwan Fore's driving layup and a missed three from Boston College at the end of regulation to force overtime for the first time since last year's A-10 semifinals against VCU.

In the extra period, Boston College made four of its five shots from the field, including a pair of three pointers, to hold on for the win and stay unbeaten in eight home games this season.

Golden led the Spiders with 17 points and 10 rebounds, securing his second career double-double and becoming the first Spider freshman with a pair of double-doubles since Charles Stephens in 1998-99.

Fore tied a season high with 14 points, 10 coming after halftime, and added five rebounds. Gilyard added 13 points and tied a career high with six assists. He also added three steals and now has 29 on the season, more than halfway to the school's freshman single-season mark.

Sherod was the final Spider in double figures, finishing with 12 points and tying a career high with nine rebounds. Richmond totaled a season-best 45 rebounds, the most by the Spiders since November 30, 2016 at Bucknell (also 45).

Richmond returns to action next Saturday against Davidson at the Robins Center, kicking off the start of the Atlantic 10 conference schedule. Tip time is scheduled for 4:30 PM on NBC Sports Network and the Spider IMG Sports Network (99.5 ESPN; ESPN 950; 107.3 BBT and RichmondSpiders.com).