Golden Leads Spiders Past George Washington, 78-68

Saturday, January 13

Robins Center

4:30 PM

University of Richmond

4-13 (2-3)

George Washington

8-10 (1-4)

RICHMOND

01/13/2018 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Coach Mooney Postgame Golden, Buckingham, Gilyard Postgame

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – Opponents of the University of Richmond men's basketball team are still learning not to sleep on Grant Golden.

The redshirt freshman put on a 24-point performance on Saturday afternoon – his fifth of the season – to lead the Spiders to a 78-68 win over George Washington at the Robins Center.

Richmond (4-13, 2-3 A-10) took a narrow two-point lead heading into the break behind 17 points from Golden, and shot over 65 percent from the floor in the second half to take down the visiting Colonials (8-10, 1-4 A-10).

"I'm thrilled to get this win," head coach Chris Mooney said after the victory. "I thought we played well, and the defense was better than it has been through this season. I'm very pleased and happy for our guys."

Jacob Gilyard added 19 points for the Spiders over 38 minutes of play, while De'Monte Buckingham, Khwan Fore and Nick Sherod also scored in double-figures, marking the third time this season all five starters accomplished the feat.

Buckingham led the team with eight rebounds, with Sherod collecting seven. Gilyard dished out five assists to lead the Spiders.

"We've been more consistent in practice than in games this season, but I thought we finished the first half well today and didn't let up in the second," Mooney said. "We attacked the zone much more aggressively tonight than we have in past games."

After a slow start for both teams, the Colonials took a four-point lead before Golden and Sherod answered with back-to-back field goals to take the lead into the opening media break.

The Spiders continued to hold a narrow advantage, until George Washington used a 15-3 run over a six-minute period to take a 25-17 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the half.

Golden sparked the first-half comeback for the home squad, which went on to score on eight of its final nine field goal attempts. He scored nine of his 17 first-half points in the final four minutes to send the Spiders into the break with a 34-32 lead.

The back-and-forth play resumed in the second half, but the Spiders used a hot scoring streak midway through the half to go up 59-52 and take their largest lead of the game. When the Colonials fought their way back into the game, fast-break buckets from both Gilyard and Fore extended the lead to 68-60 with under five minutes to play.

When it looked as if George Washington would fight back in the final minute, the Spiders held on for the 10-point win and fourth straight over the Colonials.

The Spiders will now hit the road but stay in Richmond, as they head to the Siegel Center on Wednesday, January 17, to take on rival VCU in the first of two games in the Lumber Liquidators Capital City Classic. Game time is set for 7 p.m.