Late surge lifts Richmond over UNCG, 78-58
Box Score
RICHMOND, Va.—Richmond closed the game on a 23-3 run en route to handing UNCG a 78-58 defeat, Friday at Robins Center.
With the game tied at 55-55, Richmond's Darien Brothers sparked the Spiders (9-6) by scoring 11 consecutive points including a trio of three-pointers, the last of which gave Richmond a 66-55 lead with 5:50 remaining.
A layup by Kendall Anthony and a dunk by Greg Robbins made it 70-55 with 4:28 to go before UNCG's Aloysius Henry temporarily stopped the bleeding with a pair of free throws to pull the Spartans (2-12) to within 70-57 with 4:15 left. UNCG got no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
Richmond's closing run ruined an impressive second half start for the Spartans. Trailing 38-30 at halftime, UNCG scored the first 12 points of the half and grabbed a 42-38 lead on a three-pointer by Nicholas Paulos with 16:31 to play. Aiding UNCG's opening run was seven straight misses from the field by Richmond.
After a jumper by Trevis Simpson gave the Spartans a 44-40 advantage, Anthony single-handedly regained the lead for the Spiders by scoring their next 11 points as Richmond gained a 51-47 lead with 11:44 left.
But UNCG answered Anthony's spurt by scoring six straight points and taking a 53-51 lead on Derrell Armstrong's steal and fast-break dunk with 9:34 to go. But UNCG couldn't sustain its level of play as the Spartans suffered their ninth straight defeat.
Paulos led the Spartans with 12 points, his first double-figure scoring effort since a 25-point outing against Towson on Nov. 20. The freshman was 4-of-9 from three-point range. Simpson scored 11 but was just 4-of-18 from the floor.
Henry grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds to lead the Spartans.
Brothers led Richmond with 20 points, while Anthony added 17 off the bench. Darrius Garrett finished with nine points, 12 boards and six blocks.
UNCG shot just 35 percent from the field, but out-rebounded the Spiders, 46-35. Richmond shot 45 percent for the game, including 10-of-28 from 3-point range.
The Spartans ring in the new year when they visit Miami (Fla.), 9 p.m., Monday, Jan. 2. The game can be seen on FSN South.
--UNCG--