Anderson rescues Spiders

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas -- The University of Richmond's Kevin Anderson didn't make a splash until the last 1:50. Then he dominated.

The junior guard hit a jumper, made a steal that resulted in an easy hoop, then dropped a 17-footer from the left wing with 9.8 seconds left that gave Richmond a 63-62 win over Mississippi State last night in the South Padre Island Invitational.

"When we put together this schedule, we were excited about some of the teams we'd have an opportunity to play," said UR coach Chris Mooney. "Mississippi State was certainly the first one we were looking forward to playing. This is a great win."

In the tournament final tonight at 8, the Spiders face either Old Dominion (4-0) or Missouri (3-0). They met later last night. The final will be televised by Fox College Sports.

Richmond (5-1) got a career-high 19 points from senior forward Ryan Butler, who Mooney said "had the best game of his career. I thought he was terrific." UR started hot from 3-point range and took a 21-7 lead over the Bulldogs (3-2), picked to win the SEC West and the defending SEC champions. MSU came back and led 62-57 with two minutes remaining. That's when Anderson delivered UR's counter punch.

"He is so poised when he plays, I think that really has an effect on everybody on the floor," Mooney said.

MSU, up 62-61, missed a pair of free throws with 28.6 seconds left. Anderson came off a screen, was left alone and hit the game-winner. The Bulldogs missed a 3-point try at :03.

"I was actually looking for Dan [Geriot] on the roll or Butler on the kick-out," Anderson said of the decisive jumper.

But he noticed 6-9 Bulldog Jarvis Varnado was backing off on the play, and Anderson pulled the trigger.

"No question that's the guy we want to have the ball in his hands late in the game," Butler said of Anderson (12 points), who was averaging 19.8 points. "He came through big for us again."

Mississippi State was ranked No.18 in preseason. The Bulldogs, however, lost their opener 88-74 at home to Rider. They return five starters from a 23-13 team that won last season's SEC championship.

Richmond went ahead 21-7 with five 3-pointers and the match-up defense that confused the Bulldogs, who missed 10 of their first 12 shots.

"We wanted to make it hard for them from the beginning, and I think that's what we did," Butler said.

Offensive rebounding and 3-pointers got MSU back in contention. The Bulldogs took their first lead with 7:36 left. But Butler helped UR stay in it, and Anderson emerged when required.

"I thought when we really needed to, our defense really stepped up and was good," Mooney said. "We played very poised down the stretch and were able to make some big plays down the stretch, especially Kevin Anderson."

The Spiders defeated Chattanooga and Longwood at the Robins Center in their first two games in the fifth annual South Padre Island Invitational.

RICHMOND (5-1)

3-point goals -- Richmond (8-19): Harper 2-2, Butler 2-4, Gonzalvez 2-5, Duinker 1-1, Geriot 1-4, Anderson 0-3. Mississippi St. (9-25): Stewart 4-6, Johnson 3-6, Augustus 1-2, Bost 1-5, Benock 0-3, Turner 0-3.

Turnovers -- Richmond (13): Garrett 3, Geriot 3, Anderson 2, Gonzalvez, Duinker. Mississippi St. (13): Stewart 5, Augustus 3, Bost 2, Osby, Turner, Varnado.

Blocked shots -- Richmond (1): K.Smith. Mississippi St. (1): Varnado.

Steals -- Richmond (5): Anderson 3, Gonzalvez, Geriot. Mississippi St. (0).

A -- N/A.