RICHMOND, Va. (AP)—Kevin Anderson and Gaston Moliva each hit a pair of free throws in the final 37.8 seconds helping Richmond hold off VMI 71-69 on Sunday.
The Keydets (6-6) had a 13-0 run late in the second half to take a 65-63 lead with 3:50 remaining. Anderson tied the game at 65 with a jumper.
Reggie Williams gave the Keydets their final lead, hitting one of two free throws with 2:53 remaining. The Spiders took the lead for good with 1:06 remaining on Dan Geriot’s jumper in the lane.
Travis Holmes’ jumper was blocked by Oumar Sylla and Anderson hit a pair of free throws. Austin Kenon missed a 3-pointer for the Keydets and Moliva followed with his free throws.
Williams closed the score to 71-69 with a 3-point play with 7.7 seconds remaining. After Geriot missed a pair of free throws, Kenon missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Keydets got off to a fast start with all five starters scoring and four registering assists during a 12-3 run in the first four minutes of the game. VMI eventually led 25-11 following Kenon’s 3-pointer with 9:13 remaining. The Keydets’ lead was 13 when they hit a cold spell which eventually lasted 10 minutes and 30 seconds as the Spiders put together a 22-5 run led by Ryan Butler’s pair of 3-pointers.
Richmond (6-6) has seen seven of its 12 games decided by three or less points. Anderson led the Spiders with 12, David Gonzalvez had 11 and Geriot 10.
Sylla’s season-high nine rebounds led the Spiders to a 34-23 edge on the board and their 56 percent shooting was a season-high.
Chavis Holmes led the Keydets with 19. Kenon had 18, 15 in the first half. Willie Bell and Williams each had 10. For Williams, who entered the game leading the country in scoring, it was his lowest total of the season.
