Spiders Advance To A-10 Quarterfinals With Third Straight Win

Thursday, March 8

WASHINGTON, D.C.

6:00 PM

University of Richmond

12-19

Duquesne

16-16

DUQUESNE

RICHMOND

Spiders Advance To A-10 Quarterfinals With Third Straight Win

03/08/2018 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Coach Mooney Postgame Sherod, Gilyard Postgame

WASHHINGTON, D.C. -- Richmond advanced to the Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals for the fifth straight season with a 81-68 win over Duquesne Thursday evening. The Spiders, who never trailed, were led Jacob Gilyard, who scored a game-high 20 points and tied Richmond's all-time single-season steals record by registering his 84th and 85th steals of the season.

Richmond opened an 11-point lead just six minutes into the game behind seven early points from Khwan Fore, including a poster-worthy one-handed dunk in traffic that brought the Spiders fans at Capital One Arena to their feet. The Dukes cut the deficit to as few as two, but the Spiders scored the final six points before half to open up a 41-33 lead at intermission.

The Spiders built their lead to as many as 19 midway through the second half and never led by fewer than 11 down the stretch en route to their third win in the Atlantic 10 Tournament in the last three seasons.

Gilyard registered his second career 20-point game and first since he scored 23 in a win against James Madison on December 10. He'll have at least one more game to gain sole possession of Richmond's single-season steals mark, which he currently shares with Tony Dobbins (2003-04) at 85.

Grant Golden finished one rebound shy of his sixth double-double this season, ending with 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds. As a team, Richmond outrebounded the Dukes 33-23, tied for the Spiders biggest rebounding edge over any opponent this season.

De'Monte Buckingham registered seven points, seven rebounds, and a game-high seven assists, one shy of his career high. It was his second career game with at least seven points, rebounds, and assists and first since this year's Cayman Islands Classic.

Richmond has now won eight straight and 22 of its 23 games vs Duquesne since joining the A-10 in 2001. The Spiders eight straight wins vs the Dukes are tied for their third-longest active win streak vs any opponent, behind only American (11) and Appalachian State (nine).

Next up for the Spiders is the tournament's number two seed, St. Bonaventure. The Bonnies have won 12 straight games, the third-longest active win streak in the nation. That includes their 97-88 win over Richmond on February 10 in Olean, N.Y. In that game, the Spiders led with 13 minutes remaining before Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year Jaylen Adams went on a personal run 10-0 to put the Bonnies ahead for good.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6 PM and the game will be broadcast national on the NBC Sports Network and on ESPN Richmond 99.5 FM and 950 AM in the Richmond area.

Tickets for Friday night's game may be purchased online HERE or by calling the Spider Ticket Office at 1-877-SPIDER-1. Phone orders must be made by 3 PM.