Spiders Struggle From Field in Loss to St. Bonaventure

Wednesday, February 1

Robins Center

7:00 PM

University of Richmond

11-12,4-6Atlantic 10

St. Bonaventure

12-11,6-4Atlantic 10

St. Bonaventure

Richmond

Spiders Struggle From Field in Loss to St. Bonaventure

02/01/2023 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Mooney, Bailey Postgame Instant Highlights

RICHMOND, Va. — Despite some open looks and periods of ball movement that recalled what fans have come to expect from the Spiders, the Richmond Men's Basketball team shot just 38 percent from the field and 5-24 from three-point range in a 66-62 loss to St. Bonaventure Wednesday.

"Tonight we shot very poorly from three, and they were double-teaming Neal [Quinn] and Matt [Grace] and Tyler [Burton], really trying to pack the lane," said Spider Head Coach Chris Mooney. "I thought we stayed aggressive in getting to the line 22 times, but you have to knock some of those [deep] shots down, for your point total but also to make them reconsider that strategy."

The loss dropped Richmond to 11-12 overall and 4-6 in the Atlantic 10. The Spiders are now shooting 28.9 percent from three-point range in Atlantic 10 play after making 36.9 percent of their three-pointers during the non-conference season.

"We got some good looks tonight, the ball just didn't go in the basket," said Dji Bailey, who made his first career start for the Spiders. "The biggest thing is just seeing the ball go in and having the confidence come back on the offensive end for us to pull some of these games out."

Bailey didn't show any first-start nerves early in the game, knocking down a three-pointer one minute into the game and collecting a steal on one end and driving layup on the other minutes later. Bailey had five early points, an assist, and a steal to keep the Spiders in the game as St. Bonaventure opened by hitting its first four three-point attempts to take an early lead.

"My mindset going in was just to be aggressive and assertive on the defensive end and offensive end," said Bailey.

St. Bonaventure led 31-26 at halftime and extended its lead to seven with a dunk on their opening possession of the second half. But the Spiders rallied to score seven straight points, tying the game at 33 on a dunk by Quinn with 17 minutes remaining.

Tyler Burton's three-pointer with 12:47 to play and a pair of free throws from Marcus Randolph with 12:11 to go gave the Spiders a 40-39 lead. The Bonnies scored five quick points to regain the lead as the Spiders offense stagnated, with UR ending most possessions with either a missed three-pointer or a trip to the foul line.

A three-pointer from Jason Roche with 4:38 left was Richmond's lone field goal during a nearly 12-minute stretch, during which time the Bonnies increased their lead to nine.

Three-pointers from Grace and Isaiah Bigelow 11 seconds apart cut St. Bonaventure's lead to 60-57 with 56 seconds to play, but Richmond could get no closer in the final minute.

Burton led Richmond with a game-high 22 points, including an 11-12 night at the foul line. He increased his career points total to 1,446, jumping from 21^st to 18^th on Richmond's career scoring list.

Quinn added 10 points, while Bailey finished with a team-high three assists in a career-high 24 minutes.

The loss snapped Richmond's 14-game winning streak in February home games, which had dated back to 2019. It was also Richmond's fourth consecutive loss this season.

"The biggest thing is you have to stay together and you have to work as hard as you can," said Mooney. "That's the way you break these kinds of things, just having your head down and grit your teeth and work through it and sweat through it.

Next up for the Spiders is a Sunday home date with Fordham, which will tip at noon and be televised nationally on USA Network.