RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond shot 63 percent from the floor and scored 60 points in the paint as the Spiders cruised to a 103-59 victory over the Keydets on Monday evening at the Robins Center.
The Spiders (2-0) got 17 points and 17 rebounds from senior center Dan Geriot, one of five Richmond players scoring in double figures. Justin Harper netted a game-high 21 points, while Atlantic 10 Preseason First Team All-Conference pick Kevin Anderson chipped in with 14 points and eight assists.
The Keydets (1-1), meanwhile, were led by Keith Gabriel's 17 points, all of which came in the first half. As a team, VMI shot just 32 percent from the field while connecting on six-of-16 free throws, a 38 percent clip.
The Spiders, voted third in the A-10 preseason poll, jumped out to a 4-0 advantage on their first two shots before a Hunter Houston three-pointer put the Keydets on the scoreboard. Richmond notched the first run of the game just two-and-a-half minutes in, putting together a 7-0 run in just over a minute to move ahead 14-6 on a jumper by Ryan Butler.
VMI answered with five straight points to cut the deficit to three, but that was the closest they would come the rest of the way. Richmond buckled down its defense over the next six minutes, shutting out the Keydets during a 20-0 run during which six different Spiders scored.
A pair of Ron Burks free throws stopped the streak to bring the margin to 34-11, though VMI didn't connect on a field goal until the 5:29 mark of the first half, marking an eight-minute run without a make from the floor. With the Spiders up 40-13, Gabriel connected for the first of four consecutive three-pointers, jump-starting a personal 12-3 run to bring the score to 43-25 with just under four minutes remaining in the half. The teams traded buckets until the intermission, with the Spiders up 50-29 at the break.
The Spiders hit on 69% of their field goals in the opening half, out-scoring VMI 28-4 in points in the paint in the first period. Gabriel netted a game-high 17 first-half points, while Richmond was paced by David Gonzalvez and Kevin Anderson with 10 points apiece.
Richmond picked up where they left off in the early going of the second half, running out to a 10-0 run in the opening three minutes before a Sparks three-pointer stopped the bleeding. The deficit grew to 35 just three minutes later, as the Spiders continued on an 11-4 run, fueled by nine points combined from Geriot and Harper.
The lead ballooned to 47 with one minute to play on a dunk by Australia native Josh Duinker, bringing the score to 103-56. Joe Carr netted the final three points of the contest to provide the final margin, marking VMI's worst loss since a 44-point setback to Winthrop on Jan. 23, 2008.
Richmond wrapped up the game holding advantages in assists (31-11), rebounds (48-30) and steals (12-8). The Keydets led in blocks (4-3), three-pointers made (13-6) and bench scoring (42-29).
The contest marked the 128th meeting between the in-state rivals, with Richmond now holding an 84-44 lead. The games had been tight of late, with three of the last four meetings decided by three points or less, with the teams now having split the last four match-ups.
The Keydets return to action Wednesday, playing host to West Virginia Wesleyan. Tipoff at Cameron Hall is slated for 7 p.m.
