University of Richmond guard Kevin Anderson was named most outstanding player of the 35th Atlantic 10 Conference tournament. That choice was as easy as an uncontested layup.
But Darrius Garrett's interior toughness epitomized what sent UR to its first A-10 title in a decade of league membership, and automatically into the NCAA tournament.
A few hours after beating Dayton 67-54 in the A-10 title game on Sunday afternoon, the Spiders (27-7) learned they will face Vanderbilt (23-10) in Denver on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA tournament. This is the second consecutive year and ninth time UR qualified for the event. The Spiders were eliminated in the first round by Saint Mary's last March.
"We've done something. We haven't done enough," said Anderson, who scored 23 against Dayton. "We want more, really."
The Spiders, who were seeded No. 12 in the NCAA Southwest Region, left Atlantic City, N.J., following their victory and stopped in Philadelphia to watch the tournament selection show.
"Number one, it's very, very difficult to get into the NCAA field and we're thrilled to be in it," UR coach Chris Mooney said. "To be honest with you, I think our seed ..."
Mooney didn't finish that sentence. He later suggested he was mildly disappointed UR didn't receive a higher seed. "But we can't worry about that as much as we have to worry about the match-up," Mooney said.
Before 5,602 at Boardwalk Hall, Richmond capped a three-day A-10 sweep accentuated by defense and rebounding, the specialties of Garrett, a 6-foot-9 junior reserve.
Third-seeded UR, which set a program record for wins, allowed an average of 51 points and limited opponents to 36.6-percent shooting in the A-10 tourney. Garrett had three of the Spiders' six blocks against the Flyers, who shot 38.2 percent, and he grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in 24 minutes.
"We knew defense was going to win games for us, and championships," Garrett said. "That's the motto we've been living by. We know that's our ticket."
Ninth-seeded Dayton (22-13) was the third tourney opponent Richmond outrebounded in three days. The Flyers held UR to 42.2-percent shooting, but Richmond had Anderson.
Said UD coach Brian Gregory: "He just kind of controlled the game in the second half, when we were making some runs."
Anderson concluded his MOP weekend by hitting four of nine 3-point attempts and seven of eight free throws in the title game. He scored 21 in a 55-45 win over sixth-seeded Rhode Island in Friday's quarterfinals, and 22 during a 58-54 semifinal victory over second-seeded Temple on Saturday.
"We all just came together at the right moment," Anderson said. "Our defense was spectacular this whole tournament, and our energy was spectacular this whole tournament.
"We were all just one collective will out there."
Compared to Richmond's previous two tournament games, the championship win seemed relaxing for the Spiders, who never trailed. UR made eight of 15 from 3-point distance in the first half, during which it led by 15 (29-14), and maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second half.
Dayton cut the difference to six with 11 minutes left, but a Richmond lineup that includes four seniors regrouped, refocused and stopped the Flyers from getting the ball inside and collecting easy points in transition.
"It starts, obviously, with [Anderson], and having so many seniors on the floor, guys who have been there before, not being rattled. The expressions on their faces don't change," Mooney said. "Certainly, there's an urgency with what we're trying to do in those situations, but there's no panic."
NOTE: Anderson was joined on the all-tournament team by UR forward Justin Harper, who scored 18 against the Flyers, Dayton forwards Chris Wright and Chris Johnson, and Temple post man Lavoy Allen.
joconnor@timesdispatch.com
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