In an exhilarating matchup on Saturday night, the Richmond Spiders secured a hard-fought victory against the No. 16 Dayton Flyers, earning sole possession of first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Despite a slow start and missing their first 11 shots, the Spiders' unwavering defense stifled the Flyers and paved the way for a thrilling comeback. With a final score of 69-64, Richmond extended its winning streak to 10 games, making it their longest streak since 1934-35 when the team recorded an impressive 22 consecutive victories. Moreover, the win maintains the Spiders' impeccable home record of 11-0 this season.
Richmond's head coach, Chris Mooney, hailed the team's defensive performance against Dayton as their best yet. This victory marked the 16th time during Mooney's tenure at Richmond that the Spiders have triumphed over a ranked opponent. Demonstrating their prowess on both ends of the court, Richmond held off Dayton's late surge by relentlessly converting their free throws. In fact, the Spiders made an impressive 18 of 19 attempts from the charity stripe down the stretch.
The hero of the second half for the Spiders was guard Jordan King, who scored 15 of his 17 points after the break. DeLonnie Hunt also stepped up, contributing all 10 of his points in the second half. Additionally, Isaiah Bigelow and Dji Bailey provided crucial scoring contributions, each finishing with 12 points, while Bigelow also grabbed an impressive 15 rebounds for Richmond.
Dayton, who had been riding a 13-game winning streak, suffered a setback in their quest for conference dominance. Javon Bennett led the Flyers in scoring with 18 points, followed by Kobe Elvis with 11 points. However, Dayton's leading scorer, DaRon Holmes II, struggled against Richmond's suffocating defense, managing just nine points on 2-for-12 shooting. The Flyers' offensive struggles were apparent throughout the game, as they shot a lackluster 33.9% from the field.
Reflecting on the game, Dayton coach Anthony Grant acknowledged Richmond's ability to disrupt their offensive rhythm and credited the Spiders for making winning plays. Grant highlighted his team's occasional deviation from their usual style of play and expressed disappointment in the offensive execution. The Flyers attempted a staggering 33 three-pointers compared to just 26 shots from inside the arc, but their conversion rate was a mere 10 made threes.
Both teams now look ahead to their upcoming matchups. Dayton will host George Washington on Tuesday night, while Richmond will visit Fordham on Wednesday night.
The court-storming celebration at the Robins Center added to the electric atmosphere of the game. Although court storming has elicited concerns about safety in recent times, Richmond's coach, Mooney, expressed confidence in the security measures taken and praised the handling of the court-storming by the event staff, remarking on their ability to ensure the safety of players amidst the jubilant crowd.
Richmond's victory against Dayton not only extends their winning streak but also solidifies their position as a force to be reckoned with in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Spiders' exceptional defensive performance and clutch free-throw shooting have proven to be invaluable assets, catapulting them to the top of the conference standings. With their confidence soaring, Richmond aims to maintain their momentum and continue their winning ways as they progress through the season.
