Spiders Fall Just Short in 72-70 Loss to Saint Joseph’s

Saturday, February 24

Robins Center

6:00 PM

University of Richmond

9-19 (7-9)

Saint Joseph's

13-15 (8-8)

SJU

Richmond

Spiders Fall Just Short in 72-70 Loss to Saint Joseph’s

02/24/2018 | Men's Basketball

Box Score COACH MOONEY POSTGAME

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond men's basketball team erased an 11-point first-half deficit, but the Spiders couldn't sink the final shot, falling 72-70 to visiting Saint Joseph's on Saturday night at the Robins Center.

Nick Sherod led the way for the Spiders, scoring 20 points including 12 from the 3-point line. Grant Golden, Khwan Fore and Jacob Gilyard also scored in double-digits, while De'Monte Buckingham led the Spiders with 10 rebounds.

Both teams finished the game shooting 46-percent from the field.

The Spiders fell behind early, as the Hawks took a 9-6 lead into the opening media timeout that expanded to 14-8 a few minutes later.

A scoring drought by both teams that lasted nearly four minutes was broken by Saint Joseph's, but a pair of 3-pointers from Sherod pulled the Spiders to within two with 9:36 to play in the half.

The Hawks continued to put on the pressure, taking a 25-14 lead before Gilyard made his first 3-pointer of the day to end another Spider scoring drought. A pair of buckets from Golden, Sherod and Nathan Cayo trimmed the Saint Joseph's lead to 32-29, but the Hawks used another three to take a 35-29 lead into the break.

The Spiders started the second half with more urgency, outscoring the Hawks 11-7 to cut the deficit to two entering the first media timeout. Golden's basket on the Spiders' next possession made it 42-42, the game's first tie.

Buckingham sank two free throws to tie the game again following a Saint Joseph's field goal, and Golden scored his seventh bucket of the day to give the Spiders' their first lead with 11:05 to play.

Saint Joseph's was able to gain an edge and go up by six with four minutes to play. Three-pointers from Sherod and Fore were both answered by the Hawks, but two free throws from Fore pulled the Spiders to within two with under a minute to play.

A steal on the defensive end gave the Spiders a chance to take the lead, however a costly turnover with give the Hawks possession and allowed them to take a four-point lead with 14 seconds to play. Buckingham's lay in with eight seconds left and a turnover by the Hawks gave Richmond the final posession, but Sherod's long three wouldn't land, sealing the 72-70 win for Saint Joseph's.

The Spiders return to action on Wednesday, February 28, when they host Massachusetts in their final home game of the season, presented by Lakewood. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.