5 Spiders score in double figures, blow out James Madison, 68-53

Derrick Williams was one rebound shy of a double-double and lead the Spiders to a 6-2 record with a landslide victory over the Dukes of James Madison Saturday night at the Robins Center.

December 1, 2013; 9:23 AM • by Adam Williams

RECAP

Last season’s matchup against James Madison was an overtime thriller, going down to the wire with Richmond escaping Harrisonburg with an 83-82 win. And just as last year’s game saw five Spiders score in double figures, Saturday night’s rematch at the Robins Center also had five double-digit scorers from the Richmond side. Other than this fact, nothing else about Saturday night’s game resembled last year’s overtime battle against the Dukes. In fact, Richmond led from wire to wire, and, at one point late in the second half, built a 24-point lead. Eventually, the Spiders’ balanced scoring attack put the Dukes away for good, sealing a 68-53 home win.

Cedrick Lindsay (14 PTS, 3-8 FG, 7-7 FT) was one assist shy of a double-double while Derrick Williams (10 PTS, 3-8 FG, 3 BLKS) needed just one rebound for his 9th career double-double. Terry Allen, Wayne Sparrow, and Alonzo Nelson-Ododa combined for 29 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks. For the second consecutive game, ShawnDre’ Jones came off the bench and notched a career-high in scoring with 13 points (4-4 FG, 3-3 3FG) while not missing a single shot from the field. In an off shooting night, Kendall Anthony scored only two points (1-7 FG, 0-4 3FG), well below his season average.

Throughout the first half, Richmond used its size advantage and attacked the basket; during the second half they relied on full-court pressure defense. The Spiders’ trio of post players–Allen, Williams, and Nelson-Ododa–scored the first eight points of the game, setting the tone for Richmond’s offensive game plan. For the game, Richmond forced 15 total turnovers from the Dukes and scored 13 total points off those miscues while also blocking a season-high seven shots. James Madison failed to make a 3-point basket throughout the game and was held to only 31% shooting from the field.

TOP PERFORMER

Hopefully Saturday night’s performance was a coming-out party of sorts for Derrick Williams as he neared his first double-double of the season. Williams took eight shots from the field against James Madison, twice as many during any other game this season, and had a season high three blocks.

3 Stats

• Before the game, Cedrick Lindsay was officially inducted into Richmond’s 1,000 point club.
• The Spiders are 41-6 in their last 47 non-conference games.
• Alonzo Nelson-Ododa is 6 blocks away from entering into Richmond’s top-10 all-time list for blocks.

LOOKING FORWARD

After a quick home respite from their trip to Connecticut for the Mogehan Sun Hall of Fame Tipoff Tournament, the Spiders hit the road again on Wednesday for a matchup against the Tribe of William & Mary (3-3) followed by an away game at ACC foe Wake Forest on Saturday December 7th.

December 1, 2013 9:23 AM 0