Rhode Island Rolls Over Spiders

Saturday, February 7

Kingston, RI

2:00 PM

University of Richmond

13-11,3-8Atlantic 10

Rhode Island

14-9,5-5Atlantic 10

Richmond

Rhode Island

Jaylen Robinson battles for a loose ball

02/07/2026 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Mooney & Lopez Postgame

KINGSTON, R.I. — Rhode Island used a commanding advantage at the foul line and a standout individual performance from guard Tyler Cochran to defeat Richmond 82-77 at the Ryan Center Saturday. The loss dropped Richmond to 13-11 on the season and 3-8 in Atlantic 10 play.

The Rams attempted 42 free throws and made 34, the most by a Spiders opponent since Jan. 31, 2009 (Temple – 38). 28 of Rhode Island's 49 second-half points came at the foul line.

"We didn't seem to be able to guard them and keep them off the free throw line," said Spiders coach Chris Mooney. "There are some things we can do better – defending without fouling being one of them."

The Spiders had no answer for Cochran in either half. He bullied his way to the basket and to the foul line repeatedly down the stretch, finishing with 34 points, the most by a Spiders opponent in a non-overtime game since George Mason's Javon Greene had 39 on Jan. 18, 2020.

Cochran drew 11 fouls and went to the free throw line 17 times, making 15 (the most by a Spiders opponent since Hofstra's Zeke Upshaw [15] on Nov. 19, 2013). His biggest basket came with 1:41 remaining, when he faked a handoff at the top of the key and rolled left, finishing through Spiders guard Will Johnston for the basket and the foul. Cochran's three-point play stretched what had been a two-point Rhode Island lead to five at 75-70.

"He's really good at making the initial contact. He's a very good player, a very talented player. And he made threes early, so that makes him feel really good," said Mooney. "I thought we, in a sense, made him earn it, but we didn't have enough resistance to him. He was just able to continue to get to the basket."

Richmond's last, best chance came with 20 seconds remaining, when Rhode Island's Jahmere Tripp missed the back end of a trip to the free throw line with the Rams leading 78-75. The loose ball bounced off a few hands before being corralled by Cochran, who was promptly fouled by the Spiders. He made the ensuing two free throws to seal the win.

Rhode Island improved to 2-0 vs the Spiders this season and has now won three straight in the series following six straight losses to Richmond from 2020-24.

Richmond had all the momentum midway through the first half, when the Spiders rolled off 10 straight points to take a 21-15 lead 7:36 before halftime. The lead reached double digits when AJ Lopez made a three-pointer with 3:14 on the clock to put Richmond up 31-21. But the Rams answered with a 12-3 stretch to narrow the score to 34-33 in favor of the Spiders at halftime.

"This is a high level of basketball, and you have to be really good the whole time. I thought we had somewhat of a lull towards the end of the first half," said Mooney.

Richmond opened the second half with three-pointers by Mike Walz and Mikkel Tyne, but the Rams continued to get to the foul line and chip away at the Spiders' lead. Rhode Island took its first lead of the second half at 52-51 with 10:13 to play on a free throw by Cochran, who would go on to score 20 points in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Lopez led Richmond with 19 points and a career-high five assists, while Walz added 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

"I thought AJ was good and aggressive," said Mooney. "He made some big plays for us."

Three other Spiders reached double digits, with Collin Tanner, David Thomas, and Mikkel Tyne each finishing with 10 points.

"I thought Collin was good," said Mooney of Tanner. "I feel like he defended well and was active. A big thing Collin gives us is a real understanding of how we're playing and what we're doing. When he can be aggressive and play well, that's such a bonus because he really does have a good feel for what we're trying to do."

Tanner and Tyne both returned to the starting lineup as the Spiders were without freshmen Aiden Argabright and Will Harper III, who missed the game with ankle injuries.

"This is what a basketball season does. You can't hang your head and complain about it. You have to get up and fight, and guys I felt did that today," said Mooney.

The Spiders return to Richmond for a pair of home games this week, hosting George Mason Tuesday at 7 PM and VCU Saturday at 6 PM. Saturday's matchup with VCU, the Richmond Area Honda Dealers Capital City Classic, will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.