Spiders Hold Off Charleston For Seventh Straight Win at Robins Center

Saturday, December 14

Robins Center

5:00 PM

University of Richmond

9-1,0-0Atlantic 10

Charleston

5-5,0-0CAA

Col. of Charleston

Richmond

Spiders Hold Off Charleston For Seventh Straight Win at Robins Center

12/14/2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Mooney, Gilyard, Gustavson Postgame

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond men's basketball team held the lead for the final 27 minutes of the game and withstood a late push from the College of Charleston Saturday afternoon as the Spiders posted a 78-71 non-conference victory at the Robins Center on national television.

The win improves the Spiders to 9-1 on the season, marking their best record through 10 games of a season since the 1985-86 team that also started 9-1. This also marks the first time the Spiders have had nine wins prior to conference play beginning since 2013-14. Richmond improves to 7-0 at the Robins Center this season, closing out the non-conference portion of the home schedule without a blemish.

Junior guard Blake Francis (Herndon, Va.) led four Spiders in double figures with 20 points, connecting on 4-of-9 from deep. Junior forward Grant Golden (Winchester, Va.) added 17 points and seven rebounds as he was 8-of-11 from the field. Sophomore guard Andre Gustavson (Helsinki, Finland) recorded his second-straight double-figure scoring game adding 10 points in the victory.

Junior guard Jacob Gilyard (Kansas City, Mo.) finished with eight assists in the win to go along with seven points, five rebounds and three steals.

The College of Charleston came out of the gate quickly, opening a 12-4 lead in the early going as Brevin Galloway scored the first 10 points of the game for the Cougars. The Spiders settled in and used their defense to switch the momentum, posting a 13-4 run taking a 17-16 lead. Junior guard Nick Sherod (Richmond, Va.) scored seven points during the run while Golden gave the Spiders their first lead with a basket in the paint.

The teams were tied at 22-22 before the Spiders started to assert their will with a 15-5 run, taking a 37-27 lead. Francis hit three 3-pointers for the Spiders, including back-to-back shots forcing the Cougars into a timeout. The Spiders did most of their damage in close in the first half, scoring 20 points in the paint in the opening 20 minutes with Golden leading the way with 10 points. Francis added 11 points in the first half while Sherod chipped in nine points as the Spiders held a 39-31 lead at the break.

Charleston opened the second half on an 8-2 run, narrowing the Spiders' lead down to 41-39 in the early going. The Cougars forced the Spiders into some early turnovers and Colonial Athletic Association preseason Player of the Year Grant Riller found his touch after a slow start. Riller, who had only d four points in the first half, had 10 points in the first eight minutes of the second half as the Cougars tried to close the gap.

Gustavson provided the Spiders a boost off the bench, scoring five straight points while a 3-pointer by Francis extended Richmond's lead to 57-49. Richmond led 71-62 with 4:41 remaining as Golden and junior forward Nathan Cayo (Montreal, Quebec) scored on consecutive possessions in the paint.

The College of Charleston kept battling and pulled within five at 71-66 with 2:40 remaining as Sam Miller scored off a drive. Golden came up with one of the biggest baskets of the night on the ensuing possession, nailing his first three-pointer of the season as the shot clock was winding down to extend the lead back to eight points. The Spiders were able to maintain the lead as they answered each time the Cougars scored down the stretch preserving the victory.

The Spiders begin a stretch of three-straight games away from the Robins Center Wednesday night when they travel down to Norfolk for a game against Old Dominion at 7 p.m.

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