Spiders Dig Deep in Road Win at Loyola Chicago

Tuesday, January 9

Chicago, IL

8:00 PM

University of Richmond

10-5,2-0Atlantic 10

Loyola Chicago

10-6,2-1Atlantic 10

Richmond

Loyola Chicago

01/09/2024 | Men's Basketball

Box Score AUDIO: Coach Mooney Postgame AUDIO: Neal Quinn postgame AUDIO: Jordan King two three-pointers gives Spiders lead for good

CHICAGO, Ill. — On a night when every shot near the basket had to navigate through several pairs of hands — and maybe even a fist or two — the Spiders dialed in from deep to escape Gentile Arena with a 58-56 win over Loyola Tuesday night.

Richmond shot 10-22 (46%) from three-point range, including 3-3 during a critical stretch late in the second half, to win its fifth straight game, improving to 10-5 on the season and 2-0 in the Atlantic 10.

With the Spiders trailing 50-46 with 5:30 to play, Jordan King hit a deep three-pointer from near the top of the key. Following a Ramblers turnover, King hit an even deeper three-pointer from the left wing to give UR a 52-50 lead with 4:53 remaining. The Spiders never trailed after that.

"Both were on switches," said Spiders coach Chris Mooney of King's back-to-back three-pointers. "As a big guy, you're just so nervous about getting blown by, so I think that hand goes down a little more quickly. And once [Jordan] saw that he took those shots. They're still not easy because they're so deep. But those were huge shots. We've seen that. He doesn't shy away from it."

One minute later, another three-pointer from Dji Bailey pushed the Spiders lead to 55-51, just enough for UR to survive some late free-throw troubles in the game's final 20 seconds. The win was Richmond's first in its last 11 road games.

"We talked about yesterday and today about handling what comes on the road," said Mooney. "A call doesn't go your way. The ball goes out-of-bounds and it's off of you. Everything seems to go against you. And I thought we [handled] that to a high degree today."

Richmond's 46 percent shooting from three-point range came after UR entered the game hitting just 26 percent (22-84) from deep in its previous four games. The Spiders made only 34 percent (12-35) of their shots from inside the three-point arc Tuesday.

"Before we came out on the floor, we said it doesn't matter if we shoot well," said Spiders center Neal Quinn. "All that matters is that our defense travels, we rebound, and we don't quit. And that's exactly what we did. The ball didn't fall in some times. We missed some free throws. So be it. We got it back on the other end. We got key stops when we needed to. We got key rebounds when we needed to. And we ended up winning the game."

Loyola's 56 points were six fewer than its previous season low. The Ramblers averaged 75 points in their first two A-10 games, both wins.

"Defensively we were really, really good. Hopefully that's becoming who we are and more than just a habit," said Mooney. "Even the possessions they did score they really had to work for it, and our team has really been able to handle adjustments that we make. Defensively, we're able to make adjustments in games and during timeouts, and that has really impressed me a great deal."

King led Richmond with 16 points, while Quinn added 13 and led the Spiders with seven rebounds and four assists. Dji Bailey scored 10 points, his career best fifth straight game scoring in double figures.

Playing for the first time since fracturing his left wrist vs Colorado on November 20, DeLonnie Hunt scored six points in 19 minutes.

"He gives us so much," said Mooney. "His energy and his talking and his leadership — he has incredible competitive spirit. When you get into league play and teams are more familiar with you, they're taking away what you want to do and you need to be able to drive the ball and make a play, and he did that instinctively tonight."

Richmond's 2-0 A-10 start is its fourth under Mooney, joining 2010-11, 2016-17, and 2019-20. The Spiders enter Saturday's home game vs George Mason (6 PM, ESPN Plus and MASN) on a five-game win streak, their longest since winning five in a row during the 2022 A-10 Championship and NCAA Tournament.