It wasn't a matter of getting good shots. The University of Richmond just needed to select which good shot it would take Wednesday night against Fordham.
Against the Rams' zone, the Spiders hit seven 3-pointers in the first half in taking an 18-point lead, and went on to a 102-58 Atlantic 10 Conference victory. Before 4,007, Richmond (12-9, 3-3) made 56.3 percent of its shots from the field, and a Robins Center-record 16 3-pointers in 33 attempts.
Fordham (8-11, 1-5) hasn't prevailed in an A-10 road game since January 2009. The Rams lost Saturday 95-51 at St. Bonaventure. Richmond hadn't scored in triple figures since beating VMI 103-59 on Nov. 16, 2009.
UR's offensive philosophy can be summed up in three words: "Share the ball." And that's what the Spiders did, with 30 assists — one shy of the school record — and only six turnovers against a soft defensive effort by the young Rams.
"A lot of times when you play a zone, you get tight because you're not attacking it like you attack a man-to-man," said UR coach Chris Mooney. "I thought we really created our own rhythm and kept attacking throughout."
Richmond took control immediately with proficient outside shooting. By halftime, three Spiders — guard Darien Brothers, guard Cedrick Lindsay and forward Derrick Williams — already had scored in double figures.
"Ball movement was key for us," UR center Darrius Garrett said.
Brothers finished with 21 points, and led five Spiders who scored 10 or more points.
Though it's only mid-January, this was a significant game for Richmond, which was looking to get its defensive house in order after two losses. In consecutive defeats at George Washington (83-65) and to Massachusetts (79-68), the Spiders' matchup defense gave up several easy baskets.
Through five games of league competition, UR ranked 13th among 14 A-10 teams in field goal-percentage defense (47.3 percent).
The communication coming from the Spiders on their defensive switches against Fordham reflected a more orderly, disciplined approach. Also, the Rams have young guards, and young guards rarely get a handle on Richmond's unorthodox defense.
"We took a little step back in the last two games," Lindsay said. "But today, I think we were a lot better, a lot more people were talking (on defense).
"As long as you're saying something, you're helping somebody."
Fordham tried to rattle Richmond with defensive pressure. But the Spiders committed just two turnovers in the first half.
Though a winner just one of its six A-10 games, Fordham came to the Robins Center with notable nonleague victories over Georgia Tech and a ranked Harvard team. The Rams' trouble was offense (62.4 ppg, 38 percent shooting), with seven freshmen and four sophomores on their 15-man roster.
On Saturday night, the Spiders play at St. Bonaventure, which features an NBA prospect. Andrew Nicholson, a 6-foot-9 senior, averages 15.7 points and 7.2 rebounds.
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