Spiders pull away from Lehigh to win season opener

It was a new season, but it was the same Kevin Anderson that led the University of Richmond men's basketball team to a season opening 65-53 win over Lehigh University.

The junior guard blocked a three-pointer from Lehigh junior Prentice Small with 6:18 left in the game and sparked a 11-5 run for Richmond. Anderson scored seven points during that three-minute span.

"I just calmed down a little bit and my teammates found me," Anderson said. "I got a lot of cuts and Dan [Geriot] hit me with a nice cut where I was able to convert an easy pull-up jump shot."

Anderson finished with a team-high 16 points, but the team struggled as a whole on offense. The Spiders shot 38.6 percent from the floor and only made two of 16 3-point attempts.

"We forced a lot," Anderson said. "I forced a lot. It seemed like the first half we came out shooting 3s, excited to play. Our defense in the second half is the reason we won this game."

A stingy Spiders defense had 14 steals and caused the Mountain Hawks to turn the ball over 26 times.

"We forced a lot of turnovers," Richmond coach Chris Mooney said. "Our pressure was tremendous, especially in the second half."

During the second half, Richmond stole the ball nine times as Lehigh turned it over 17 times. Richmond outscored Lehigh 40-28 during the second half after being tied at 25 at the half.

Lehigh started out the game strong, taking a 15-6 lead by connecting on its first four 3-pointers. The Mountain Hawks only made one more 3-pointer during that half as the Spiders came back to tie the game.

The game marked the return of Geriot, a redshirt junior who missed all of last year with a torn ligament in his knee. Geriot finished with 11 points and six rebounds in 31 minutes of play.

"At times it was a little choppy," Geriot said of his play. "I tried to get my rhythm back and get the rhythm of the game. It was difficult and it showed at times."

Mooney agreed with his center's assessment of how he played.

"He missed a couple of shots that often makes and I think he will [make them] in the future," Mooney said.

Junior Justin Harper scored 14 points and led the Spiders with seven rebounds and four steals. Senior David Gonzalvez added 11 points and three assists.

The Spiders next game is at 7 p.m. on Nov. 16 at home against Virginia Military Institute.

Contact staff writer Andrew Prezioso at andrew.prezioso@richmond.edu