Spiders Season Comes To An End In Second Round Of NCAA Tournament

Saturday, March 19

Buffalo, NY

6:10 PM

University of Richmond

24-13,10-8Atlantic 10

Providence

27-5,14-3Big East

Richmond

Providence

Photo by: Nicholas T. LoVerde

Spiders Season Comes To An End In Second Round Of NCAA Tournament

03/19/2022 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University of Richmond men's basketball team saw its storybook postseason run come to an end Saturday evening as the 12^th-seeded Spiders fell to fourth-seeded Providence 79-51 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Key Bank Arena in Buffalo. The Spiders finish the year 24-13 overall, seeing their five-game winning streak come to an end in their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011.

"I couldn't be more proud of our guys," head coach Chris Mooney said. "The finality of this tournament is hard, but what our guys and especially our seniors have meant to our school and program is beyond words."

The Spiders had unfortunate timing for an off night shooting, finishing the game just 21-of-53 (39.6 percent) from the field and only 1-of-22 (4.5 percent) from distance in the loss. The Spiders' one made 3-pointer was a season-low while also only hitting 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from the free throw line.

"I don't think we were great defensively tonight," graduate guard Jacob Gilyard said. "Hats off to Providence as they shot 12-of-22 from three and we shot 1-of-22. It was one of those days for us but Providence made shots when they needed to."

Graduate forward Nathan Cayo (Montreal, Quebec) led the Spiders with 18 points and was one of just two in double figures. Cayo connected on 9-of-11 from the field and helped Richmond out-score Providence 32-24 in the paint. Cayo moved into 25^th all-time in program history in scoring in the first half, surpassing Ken Daniel for 25^th place with 1,385 points. Graduate forward Grant Golden (Winchester, Va.) added 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.

"I don't know when the bad taste in our mouths will wear off from this one tonight, but when it does, we will look back fondly on these last two weeks," Golden said. "What we have been able to accomplish, words can't describe. This is what we came back for and what we wanted to do, so regardless of tonight, nobody can take that away from us. To be here with Jacob and these seniors, committed to our goals is truly a blessing and something I will forever be grateful for."

Providence conversely was on offensively from the start, shooting 51.9 percent (28-of-54) from the field and hitting 12-of-22 (54.5 percent) from distance. The Friars had five in double figures, led by 16 points from Noah Horchler who led the team with four 3-pointers.

"This certainly a tough way to end but we have earned a lot the last 10 days and especially the last three years," Mooney said. "Nothing has been easy over the past three years but these guys have really been tremendous. I couldn't be more proud to be associated with the guys in that locker room."

--UR—