Golden scores 24 in loss to Utah State

Friday, November 12

Annapolis, MD

6:00 PM

University of Richmond

1-1,0-0Atlantic 10

Utah State

1-1,0-0Mountain West

Utah St.

Richmond

Photo by: Keith Lucas/Sideline Media

11/12/2021 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A decisive 18-3 run over the game's final minutes led Utah State to an 85-74 win over the Richmond Spiders Friday in the first game of the Veterans Classic at Alumni Hall. After a tough offensive putback by Connor Crabtree gave Richmond a 65-63 lead with 5:38 remaining, the Aggies scored 18 of the game's next 21 points to put away the Spiders.

"I thought the biggest thing was they were scoring too easily," said Richmond coach Chris Mooney about the game's final minutes. "I don't think we executed as well as we possibly could have. [We were] a little bit, not quite rushed but a little bit anxious – but most of that stemmed from the fact that they were scoring far too easily on the other end."

""When they had a lead they had a couple of longer possessions when they took their time and got into their action late and made the shot. Those are crushing. I thought they played great."

Grant Golden led Richmond with 24 points and eight rebounds while shooting 10-17 from the field. As a team, the Spiders made just 13 of their 34 field goal attempts from two-point range (38.3 percent).

"They're a tall team," said Golden of Utah State. "I think we got some decent looks but I think we were a little hesitant inside. It definitely affected us towards the begging of the game but we still got the looks that we wanted."

Richmond shot a higher percentage from three-point range, where the Spiders made 14 of their 32 attempts (43.8 percent). Richmond's 14 made threes were their most against a Division I opponent since December 3, 2019 vs Hampton (15).

Jacob Gilyard added 16 points, six assists, and four steals for the Spiders. He passed Temple's Pepe Sanchez for the most career steals in Atlantic 10 history and the fourth-most steals in Division I history. With 369 career steals, Gilyard is 16 shy of matching the Division I career record held by Providence's John Linehan.

Tyler Burton scored 13 point and grabbed seven rebounds while recording Richmond's only two blocks of the game.

Richmond jumped to a 15-8 lead over the game's first six minutes behind four three-pointers from four different players. Leading by three with the seconds ticking down at the end of the first half, Connor Crabtree grabbed an Aggies air ball and flipped the ball ahead to Burton, streaking down the sideline. Burton rose and fired a shot off one leg from 30 feet. The ball dropped cleanly through the hoop to give Richmond a 43-37 lead at halftime.

The Aggies erased the Spiders led quickly, scoring the first seven points out of the break as part of a 13-2 run that gave Utah State a 50-45 lead with 15 minutes remaining. The lead grew to nine before Richmond responded with a 10-0 run to move in front 63-62 with 7:49 to play. Two minutes later, Crabtree's layup made the score 65-63 Spiders and set the stage for the Aggies game-deciding stretch.

Up next for Richmond is Georgia State at the Robins Center on Tuesday. Tip time is 7 PM and the game will be shown on NBC Sports Washington and ESPN Plus.