Richmond rallies to win opening game of NIT 76-66
DENTON, Texas -- — Jacob Gilyard and Tyler Burton scored 18 points each and Richmond overcame the absence of their top two scorers to beat Toledo 76-66 in the opening game of the NIT Tournament on Wednesday.
A basket by Matt Grace — making his first start in his 82nd career game at Richmond — with under 12 minutes left gave the Spiders their first lead since 2-0. After 10 lead changes over 5 1/2 minutes, Nathan Cayo scored seven points in a 9-0 run that left Richmond ahead 66-58. A 3-pointer by Jacob Gilyard made it 71-62 with 1:35 to go.
The two-seed Spiders (14-8) were without Blake Francis (16.1 ppg), who hurt his back in their regular-season finale, and Grant Golden (12.7), who has been limited by a finger he broke in a Feb. 23 game.
Burton grabbed 10 rebounds in picking up his third double-double this season. Gilyard had four assists to become the program's career leader with 577, passing Greg Beckwith (1982-86, 573). Cayo added 15 points and Souleymane Koureissi 10.
Ryan Rollins scored 18 points, but 16 came in the first half when three-seed Toledo (21-9) took a 38-32 lead. Setric Millner Jr. added 13 points and Spencer Littleson 11. Mid-American Conference player of the year Marreon Jackson scored 10 points. Toledo shot only 28% in the second half, including 1 of 14 from the arc.
Richmond will play the winner of Saturday's game between Saint Louis and Mississippi State in a quarterfinal on March 25.
The tournament, limited to 16 teams instead of 32 this season, is taking place in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area at the University of North Texas Coliseum in Denton and at the Comerica Center in Frisco.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Amy Bonner
- Kerby Sitton
- Trent Dews
2023-24 Mid-American Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Toledo | 14-4 | - | 20-12 |
Akron | 13-5 | 1 | 24-11 |
Ohio | 13-5 | 1 | 20-13 |
Central Michigan | 12-6 | 2 | 18-14 |
Bowling Green | 10-8 | 4 | 20-14 |
Miami (OH) | 9-9 | 5 | 15-17 |
Western Michigan | 9-9 | 5 | 12-20 |
Kent State | 8-10 | 6 | 17-17 |
Ball State | 7-11 | 7 | 15-16 |
Eastern Michigan | 6-12 | 8 | 13-18 |
Northern Illinois | 5-13 | 9 | 11-20 |
Buffalo | 2-16 | 12 | 4-27 |
2023-24 Atlantic 10 Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Richmond | 15-3 | - | 23-10 |
Loyola Chicago | 15-3 | - | 23-10 |
Massachusetts | 11-7 | 4 | 20-11 |
VCU | 11-7 | 4 | 24-14 |
Duquesne | 10-8 | 5 | 25-12 |
George Mason | 9-9 | 6 | 20-12 |
St. Bonaventure | 9-9 | 6 | 20-13 |
Saint Joseph's | 9-9 | 6 | 21-14 |
La Salle | 6-12 | 9 | 16-17 |
Fordham | 6-12 | 9 | 13-20 |
Rhode Island | 6-12 | 9 | 12-20 |
Davidson | 5-13 | 10 | 15-17 |
Saint Louis | 5-13 | 10 | 13-20 |
George Washington | 4-14 | 11 | 15-17 |