Spiders Equal Best A-10 Start With OT Win at Davidson

Saturday, January 20

Davidson, NC

4:00 PM

University of Richmond

13-5,5-0Atlantic 10

Davidson

11-7,1-4Atlantic 10

OT 1

Richmond

Davidson

Spiders Equal Best A-10 Start With OT Win at Davidson

01/20/2024 | Men's Basketball

Box Score AUDIO: Play-by-play of Bigelow & King clutch three-point field goals AUDIO: Coach Mooney postgame AUDIO: Jordan King postgame

RICHMOND, Va. — Jordan King scored 13 of Richmond's final 16 points, including all seven in overtime, to lead the Spiders to a 69-64 win at Davidson Saturday. The victory was Richmond's eighth straight, moving the Spiders to 13-5 overall and 5-0 in the Atlantic 10, which matches the team's best conference start since joining the league in 2001.

"Just one word: toughness," said King when asked to reflect on the key to Richmond's victory after the game. "Everyone showed toughness. Everyone on the bench, the coaching staff, players on the floor, we all just showed toughness."

After leading by as many as 11 in the first half and nine in the second half, the Spiders found themselves trailing in the final two minutes of regulation following a 14-2 Davidson run. But Isaiah Bigelow drained a deep three-pointer from the left wing to tie the game at 60. Following a Davidson layup, Jordan King was fouled and made a pair of free throws with six seconds left to tie the game at 62. A runner by Davidson at the buzzer rimmed in-and-out, sending the Spiders to overtime for the first time this season.

Wildcats guard Angelo Brizzi corralled the jump ball in overtime and appeared to be driving for the lead, when Isaiah Bigelow sprinted from the other side of the court to block the layup, setting the tone for the extra period.

"He closed and it was amazing that he was able to get that block, said Spider coach Chris Mooney. "That's the kind of play that leads to an inflating of us and then a deflating of the other team."

On the ensuing possession, Neal Quinn found Jordan King for an open three-pointer, giving UR the lead for good.

"I trust Neal with everything," said King. "He's always going to make the right play. He read the double team like he always does and made a perfect pass to me. Playing with Neal just makes the game so easy."

Richmond's eight straight wins are its longest single-season win streak since winning nine in a row while capturing the A-10 Championship and advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2011. The Spiders are tied with Dayton for first place in the Atlantic 10 at 5-0.

King finished with 24 points, his eighth 20-point effort of the season.

"He can just make those shots," said Mooney of King's play down the stretch. "He found space. And once he has a little bit of space he's so shifty with the ball that it's hard to time him up."

Bigelow added 10 points and 13 rebounds, five more than other player in the game.

"He's a dog," said King of Bigelow. "He won us that game. He's always working hard. Coach [Mooney] sets him up for the challenge and he always accepts the challenge every time."

Dji Bailey scored 10 points with five rebounds and three steals. Tyler Harris led the Spiders bench with six points and four rebounds. Bigelow, Bailey, and Harris are all North Carolina natives and played in front of a large crowd of family and friends.

"Tyler Harris was great. Zae turned out to have a great game. Big late rebounds. Big steal," said Mooney.

"I'm happy those guys got the win in front of their families," added King.

The Spiders will return to the Robins Center for a two-game homestand this week, facing George Washington at 7 PM Wednesday on the NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com and taking on Dayton Saturday at 6 PM on CBS Sports Network.

"[This is] how every A-10 game is going to be," said King. "We've just got to keep fighting and play to the whistle. It's always going to be a dogfight."

"We've won games. We've won close games," said Mooney. "There's a growing understanding that this is basketball in the A-10, especially this year. This is a high-level league and this is the best I've seen it one through fifteen."