Spiders Roll La Salle For Largest A-10 Road Win Ever

Wednesday, February 12

Philadelphia, PA

7:00 PM

University of Richmond

18-6,8-3Atlantic 10

La Salle

11-12,2-9Atlantic 10

Richmond

La Salle

02/12/2020 | Men's Basketball

Box Score AUDIO: Coach Mooney Post Game AUDIO: Tyler Burton Post Game

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Richmond turned in its best defensive effort of the season and coasted to a 74-47 win at La Salle Wednesday night, holding the Explorers to under 30 percent shooting from the field and forcing 17 turnovers en route to its largest A-10 road win since joining the conference in 2001.

Richmond has won three straight games and held its opponent under 55 points in all three, the first time the Spiders have surrendered fewer than 55 points in three consecutive conference games since 2011. With the win, the Spiders improved to 18-6 this season and 8-3 in the Atlantic 10, third-best in the conference.

Nathan Cayo provided the first of several highlight plays for the Spiders less than a minute into the game, driving around one defender and dunking over a second for Richmond's first points. Neither team had trouble scoring early and the game was tied at 13 after six-and-a-half minutes.

But Richmond's defense clamped down, holding the Explorers scoreless for the next six minutes while forcing four turnovers as the Spiders built a nine-point lead. After La Salle closed the gap to three with five minute to play in the first half, the Spiders again locked down the Explorers, holding them scoreless over the remainder of the half while adding 11 points of their own to take a 35-21 lead at intermission.

Richmond scored four straight to open the second half, forcing a La Salle timeout just 80 seconds into the period, and added on six more to extend its lead to 45-21 before the Explorers finally scored, hitting a three-pointer to stop a 21-0 Spiders run that spanned parts of both halves.

Richmond built its lead to as many as 31 midway through the period and rolled to a 74-47 victory. The Spiders 27-point win was their largest on the road since defeating Old Dominion 80-53 on December 4, 2012 and their largest ever in an A-10 conference road game. The previous record had been a 26-point win at Duquesne on March 3, 2002.

Grant Golden scored a game-high 16 points in just 19 minutes while making eight of his 11 shots from the field. In two games vs La Salle this season, Golden has totaled 31 points in 35 minutes. Blake Francis added 14 for the Spiders, while Nathan Cayo and Tyler Burton each chipped in 12 points.

Jacob Gilyard recorded a team-high five assists and was one of three Spiders with two steals along with Golden and Cayo. At 18-6, Richmond is 12 games over .500 for the first time since finishing the 2010-11 season at 29-8.

Up next for the Spiders is crosstown rival VCU in the Lumber Liquidators Capital City Classic on Saturday. Tip time is 4p and the game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.