Spiders Go Cold In Loss To Radford

Sunday, December 22

Washington, DC

3:30 PM

University of Richmond

Radford

12/22/2019 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Their worst shooting effort of the season and some timely three-pointers from Radford sent the Spiders to a 73-58 loss to the Highlanders at the DC Holiday Hoops Fest on Sunday. Richmond hit just 20 of its 55 field goal attempts (36.4 percent) as the Spiders shot under 40 percent for the field for the first time in 2019-20.

The Highlanders took their first lead three-and-a-half minutes into the game when a three-pointer by Travis Fields made the score 5-4. Radford would never relinquish the lead, as the Highlanders aggressive defense frustrated a Spiders offense that entered the game averaging 78 points per contest. Richmond opened the game hitting just three of its first 12 shots from the field and trailed by five before Blake Francis made a jumper and three-pointer and Grant Golden added a layup to tie the score at 13.

Radford responded with an 8-0 run that included another three by Field and one by Cle'von Greene, who finished the day 4-4 from three-point range. Freshman Tyler Burton came off the bench to spark the Spiders late in the first half, scoring on a lob pass from Nick Sherod and making a three-pointer to help narrow Richmond's deficit to three at 24-21. But the Spiders managed just three points, coming on a three-pointer by Jacob Gilyard, over the final four minutes of the first half and Radford led 31-24 at intermission, in part due to a 11-0 advantage in points off turnovers.

The Spiders weren't able to close the gap any in the second half, as every run by UR was seemingly answered with a three-pointer by the Highlanders. When a free throw and layup by Francis narrowed the lead back to seven four minutes into the half, Radford responded with another three-pointer by Cle'von Greene. When a layup by Jacob Gilyard again drew Richmond within seven at the 12-minute mark, Radford answered with six straight points to take a 48-35 lead midway through the second half. When jumpers from Golden and Francis made it an eight-point game with 3:30 to play, another Greene three-pointer pushed the lead back to double digits.

The Highlanders took care of business at the foul line down the stretch, finishing the game 19-23 from the free-throw stripe to secure the upset win. Francis led all Richmond scorers with 18 points, just shy of his season average. Gilyard was the only other Spider in double figures, finishing with 10 points and a team-high six assists. Golden led the Spiders with seven rebounds to go with nine points. Burton finished with a career-high eight points off the bench for Richmond.

The loss dropped the Spiders record to 10-2, still their best 12-game start since the 1987-88 season. Richmond will return to action on December 29th at Alabama as UR seeks a fourth win over a power-conference opponent this season. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30pm on the SEC Network.