Spiders On Target in Win vs Duquesne

Wednesday, February 5

Robins Center

7 PM

University of Richmond

8-15,3-7Atlantic 10

Duquesne

9-14,4-6Atlantic 10

Duquesne

Richmond

02/05/2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Mooney, Neskovic Postgame Instant Highlights

RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 73-68 win over Duquesne Wednesday at the Robins Center. The Spiders, who led by as many as 13 points with less than three-and-a-half minutes remaining, outlasted a last-gasp run by the Dukes to win their fourth straight in the series.

"This group has been very resilient. They've worked very hard. They've answered challenges. But it just rings a little hollow until you win," said Spiders coach Chris Mooney. "It feels great to have won the game, and it lets the guys take a little bit of an exhale."

"It means everything to win after a couple tough stretches and a couple tough games we lost at home," said Spiders forward Dusan Neskovic. "Everything's much easier when you win, and all the stuff you have to learn is much easier when you win. Because we still have to learn from every game."

Duquesne applied defensive pressure to the Spiders throughout the night. At times —especially late — the Dukes were able to force Richmond turnovers (UR matched a season high with 15 giveaways). But they also surrendered their share of open shots, as UR shot a season-high 61 percent from the field (its best since December 1, 2021 at Wofford) and a season-high 67 percent from three-point range (its best in nearly 15 years dating all way back to February 10, 2010 at Rhode Island).

Richmond was led by Jason Roche, who scored 14 points on 4-4 shooting from the field, including 3-3 from three-point range. He also added a team-high seven rebounds, his most in three seasons with the Spiders.

"Roche was just so tough," said Mooney. "He embodies being a college athlete. He's so tough and committed and works so hard and gets so much out of himself. I thought he was great and I'm really pleased for him we got the win in a game he played so well."

Neskovic scored 13 points, and helped the Spiders ice the game with four key free throws in the final 44 seconds. His layup with 13:17 remaining in the second half gave him 1,000 career points.

"It feels great to win and do that at the same time," said Neskovic.

The Spiders scored six straight points early to take a 6-1 lead, and pushed their advantage to 17-6 midway through the opening half with a 9-0 run. Duquesne was able to hold UR without a field goal in the final two minutes of the first half and chip away at Richmond's lead, going into halftime trailing just 33-27.

Richmond received major contributions in the first half from Ryan Soulis, who finished the game with career highs in points (8) and blocks (3) in just 10 minutes off the bench.

"Soulis dove for that ball in front of their bench, just a big-time play for a guy his size. [He also] made a couple shots inside," said Mooney.

The Spiders expanded their lead to as many as 13 after halftime but found some trouble against a zone Duquesne began to employ midway through the second half. Still, when a layup and free throw by Roche made the score 67-54 with 3:27 remaining, it seemed assured that the Spiders were on their way to their first win since January 4 at Massachusetts.

But the Dukes answered with nine straight points over a span of 91 seconds, aided by four Richmond turnovers. The Spiders were finally able to settle themselves in the final minute, going a perfect 6-6 on three one-and-one opportunities to seal the win.

"We had enough of a lead, which was positive," said Mooney. "Ends of games in college basketball are generally not as smooth as you would like them to be, but tonight was especially rocky. We have some guys in different spots and bigger roles, but we have to be getting past that and be able to handle ourselves a little bit better."

Richmond is now 28-3 vs Duquesne since joining the Atlantic 10 in 2001, its most wins vs any opponent over that span.

Up next for the Spiders is a Saturday road game at Davidson, coming two weeks after the Wildcats outlasted Richmond 72-66 in the Robins Center. Saturday's matchup will tip at noon ET and be televised on USA Network.