Saint Joseph’s Shoots Past Spiders

Saturday, February 22

Philadelphia, PA

12:30 PM

University of Richmond

10-18,5-10Atlantic 10

Saint Joseph's

17-10,8-6Atlantic 10

Richmond

Saint Joseph's

Mike Walz and Jason Roche defend a SJU player on the baseline

02/22/2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA — Saint Joseph's made some hard shots, and the Spiders missed some easier ones in the first half, allowing the Hawks to build a 17-point halftime lead en route to a 78-62 win at Hagan Arena Saturday. Saint Joseph's made nine of its 15 three-pointers in the first half, many of them from NBA range and over the outstretched arms of a nearby Spider.

"They can make hard shots. That's part of the scouting report," said Spiders coach Chris Mooney.

And while Saint Joseph's was hitting from deep early, many of Richmond's open looks from inside the arc were drawing iron, as UR shot 6-21 (29 percent) from two-point range in the first half. Five of Richmond's seven turnovers came in the first half, leading to nine points by the Hawks, many on the fast break.

"We really shot poorly at the beginning of the game, when we had really good looks and good shots," said Mooney. "In the first half we had live ball turnovers that led to transition [points]. Nobody can guard anybody in transition. We gave them those baskets."

By the time Richmond settled down offensively — scoring 36 points in the second half with nine assists and just a pair of turnovers — it was too late. The Spiders were unable to get closer than 11 points.

"You can't spot them any points," said Mooney. "You need to make them feel uncomfortable by two things: your defense, your plan, your ball pressure and the score of the game. When we cut it to 11 at the end, if that was us cutting it to four that's a big difference."

The loss snapped UR's two-game win streak and dropped the Spiders to 10-18 overall and 5-10 in the Atlantic 10.

Dusan Neskovic (14), Mikkel Tyne (13), and Mike Walz (13) combined for nearly two-thirds of Richmond's points. Neskovic missed a large part of the second half after a hit to the mouth opened a cut on his lip. "Dusan bounced back from the injury and helped us," said Mooney.

Tyne and Walz both recorded a team-high five assists, and Walz added five rebounds, most among Spiders. Walz attempted a career-high 15 shots as the Hawks mostly guarded him from under the basket. He went 3-3 from three-point range but 2-12 on two-point shots.

"I told Mike after the game that I'm proud that he continued to shoot and I wish he had taken 10 more," said Mooney. "If you start passing up the shots that you're given, then you're really going to be stagnant. Because the very thing that's open, you're declining."

After sitting the first half, Jonathan Beagle came off the bench to score eight points in 8:31 after halftime while also collecting four rebounds.

"Jonathan Beagle had his best game in a long time," said Mooney. "I thought he was really good tonight. He was aggressive. I think that's the balance he's trying to strike: how do you just play and stay aggressive while having an understanding of what we're trying to do."

Beagle's offensive putback with 6:15 remaining brought Richmond within 11 at 63-52, but the Spiders couldn't get closer, dropping their second straight to the Hawks.

"I think we can use this moving forward because this was a game where we continued to battle and continued to have good things show up," said Mooney. "The ball is moving. It's finding the open man. The decisions are quicker. The decisions are more precise. Generally, over the years, that's what helps us. Hopefully, we'll continue that in the next few weeks."

Richmond will return to action Tuesday at the Robins Center when the Spiders host VCU in the Capital City Classic presented by Richmond Area Honda Dealers. Tip-off time is 7 PM on CBS Sports Network.