Spiders Sweep VCU with 77-76 Comeback Win

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – It was a rivalry game for the ages on Wednesday night.

The University of Richmond men's basketball team trailed rival VCU by 12 in the second half but would not back down, mounting a comeback and eventually overcoming the Rams in the final seconds to take a 77-76 win at the Robins Center.

"This is what makes rivalries so special," head coach Chris Mooney said after the win. "We're fortunate to win this one, and I'm really proud to be a part of it and thrilled that we won. I thought our team showed a great deal of heart, toughness and energy tonight."

Nick Sherod and Jacob Gilyard each scored 18 points, while Grant Golden scored 16 and Khwan Fore added 15 to lead the Spiders to their second victory over VCU this season and first rivalry sweep since 2014-15.

The Spiders got off to a hot start, going on an 8-0 run to start the game and holding the Rams scoreless for the opening 2:16, but a scoring drought that lasted over three minutes allowed VCU to cut the lead to one with just under 12 minutes to play in the half.

The Rams rallied to take a four-point lead with just over six minutes to play before an open 3-pointer from Gilyard and a short jumper from Golden tied things up following a VCU free throw.

After trading free throws, the Rams mustered a three-point lead, but a jumper from De'Monte Buckingham and a hustle play from Gilyard that led to a lay in from Joe Kirby gave the Spiders a one-point advantage with just under three minutes to play.

The Rams tied things up for the eighth time in the opening half to make the score 41-41 at the break. The first half of play ended with a total of 12 lead changes, the most in a game this season for the Spiders.

After the Spiders took a three-point lead to start the second half, VCU rebounded with four points of their own to take a 50-49 lead entering the first media timeout. The Rams expaneded their lead to five, before Issac Vann was called for the technical, sending Gilyard to the line for a pair of free points.

The Rams used a 17-4 run over a seven-minute period to pull away from the Spiders and take a 12-point lead, but a jumper by Sherod and a 3-pointer from Gilyard sparked the Spider comeback.

The pair of Sherod and Gilyard continued to put on the pressure, scoring the next six Spider points to cut the VCU advantage to five with under four minutes to play. After a VCU free throw, Sherod continued to trade baskets with the Rams, bringing Richmond to within four with 1:36 to play.

Fore stepped up to make two free throws to make it 74-72 with just over a minute to play before the Rams extended the lead back out to four, but Sherod scored his ninth field goal of the game to make it a two-point game with 35 seconds left.

"Nick is known as a great shooter in Richmond, but he's much more than that," Mooney said. "He's a terrific all-around player, and he has improved so much. He works harder than anyone. Every basket was key, and every basket that he had was crucial."

It was Gilyard who stole the ball on the inbounds play and laid it in to tie the game with 31 seconds to play and force a VCU timeout. After an errant shot attempt by the Rams, Fore was fouled and converted one of two free throws to give the Richmond a 77-76 lead with 2.1 seconds left. he then stole the ensuing inbounds pass to seal the Spider win.

"We couldn't have put ourselves in that position if we didn't have tremendous heart and great character," Mooney said. "It's been a climb, but it's been a steady improvement for us."

Richmond returns to action on Saturday, February 10, when they travel to Olean, New York, to take on St. Bonaventure. Game time is set for 4 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

De'Monte Buckingham

Khwan Fore

Jacob Gilyard

Grant Golden

Joe Kirby

Nick Sherod

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University of Richmond Athletics