COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Richmond shocks No. 13 Florida

SUNRISE, Fla. – The University of Richmond’s match-up defense and 3-point shooting frustrated 13th-ranked Florida last night in the Orange Bowl Classic at the BankAtlantic Center, and the Spiders sprung the upset 56-53.

Guard Kevin Anderson missed the front end of a one-and-one with 23.5 seconds left, then hit both ends with 5.4 seconds left to give UR a 54-50 lead. UF’s Erving Walker hit a running 3-pointer with one second left, and Anderson answered with two more free throws.

"This is a great win," said UR coach Chris Mooney. "These wins are never specifically, or only, about the particular game at hand. There’s so much hard work that’s gone into it, so much confidence that we’ve built over our time, so much talent that we have. I couldn’t be happier for our guys."

Richmond (8-3) topped a ranked team two seasons ago (No. 16 Dayton), and last season (No. 17 Xavier). The Spiders went 4-2 during a stretch that included Mississippi State (win), Missouri (win), Old Dominion (win), VCU (loss), South Carolina (loss) and Florida (win).

"It’s as hard of a stretch, I think, as anybody will play non-league," Mooney said.

The Gators (8-2), down 52-50, missed a 3-pointer at :09, then missed a follow. Anderson made a steal with 5.4 seconds left.
Florida was averaging 75.4 points, but was 7 of 27, and 1 of 9 on 3-point attempts, in the second half. "When you can defend like that, it gives you a chance, no matter what," Mooney said.

The Spiders trailed 32-19 with 2:41 left in the first half, but gained momentum with its unusual defense and David Gonzalvez 3-pointers (he scored 16).

During the next 11 minutes, UR outscored UF 27-5, with 18 of those UR points coming on 3-pointers. Richmond led 46-37 with 11 minutes left.

But the Spiders on their next nine possessions missed seven shots and turned it over twice. Florida cut the lead to 47-46 with 4:23 left, tied it at 48 with three minutes to play, and took a one-point lead with 2:33 remaining.
Gonzalvez hit a 25-footer to put UR ahead 52-49 with 1:34 left, and that was the night’s biggest shot. Anderson scored all 12 of his points in the second half.

"We have one of the best backcourts in the country, and if you’re going to be good in an area on a college basketball team, you want it to be in your backcourt," Mooney said.

Richmond changed its starting lineup for the first time this season. Josh Duinker, a 6-11 sophomore from Australia, started in place of 6-9 redshirt junior Dan Geriot, who has struggled after missing last season due to a knee injury (torn anterior cruciate ligament). Geriot, who led the Spiders in scoring (14.3 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg) two years ago, this season was averaging 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds. He was shooting 37.3 percent, and had missed 12 of 14 attempts from 3-point distance.

"The idea behind it was nothing punitive for Dan. I think that Josh has been playing well," said Mooney. "Dan’s a very cerebral player, very bright, very thorough in his analysis of the game. That hurts a player sometimes."

Mooney added that he wanted Geriot to "just go out and compete, just go out and try to get every loose ball and every rebound."
Geriot (9 points) provided a lift off the bench, scoring eight first-half points on two in-the-paint moves and two jumpers. Increased interior scoring was a priority for UR, which had been relying heavily on Anderson (16.8 ppg) and Gonzalvez (13.0 ppg). Heading into this game, Richmond scored fewer than 60 points in its last two games, and in three of its last four.

Florida, getting more interior opportunities, led by 13 with 2:41 left in the first half. But the Spiders cut that deficit to 32-24 at halftime. Their defense intensified in the second half, and Florida could not find a way to get the ball inside and finish.

This was Richmond’s third and final game of the regular season vs. Southeastern Conference teams. The Spiders handled Mississippi State in the semifinals of the South Padre Island Invitational, whose title UR captured. Richmond fell at South Carolina 76-58 Wednesday.

Florida hadn’t played since suffering its first loss, 85-73 to Syracuse, 10 days ago.

Miami defeated Florida Atlantic in the first game of the 16th annual Orange Bowl Classic, a double-header played in the home of the NHL Florida Panthers.

NEXT: The Spiders face UNC Greensboro Tuesday at the Robins Center at noon. The unusual starting time was arranged to allow players from both teams to get home a bit earlier for holiday break.