Richmond beats No. 24 Xavier in OT in A10 semis

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Richmond is headed to the Atlantic 10 Conference championship game after playing its third overtime period against No. 24 Xavier in less than two weeks.

Kevin Anderson scored 27 points, David Gonzalvez added 26 and third-seeded Richmond rallied to defeat the second-seeded Musketeers 89-85 in OT in the conference semifinals Saturday.

Anderson hit a tying layup with 3.1 seconds left in regulation, then Gonzalvez made a 3-pointer to open the extra five minutes, helping Richmond (26-7) reach the conference final for the first time since 2002.

The Spiders will face No. 17 Temple (28-5) on Sunday afternoon at Boardwalk Hall, looking to dethrone the two-time defending champions. The Owls beat Rhode Island 57-44 in the other semifinal for their ninth straight win.

Temple’s last loss was a 71-54 defeat at Richmond.

Jordan Crawford had 20 points to lead Xavier (24-7), which had an eight-game winning streak snapped. The Musketeers are likely to get an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

The last time Xavier and Richmond met Feb. 28, the game went two overtimes, with the Musketeers walking off with a 78-76 win.

This one was just as exciting, with the Spiders rallying from a 73-69 deficit in the final 56 seconds of regulation to tie the game. Anderson, the conference player of the year, got the last four points.

Anderson’s second basket came 12 seconds after Dante’ Jackson missed the front end of a 1-and-1 that could have put Xavier up by four.

Anderson rushed the ball upcourt after the miss and dribbled around the top of the key before making a lightning quick move down the left side of the lane for an uncontested layup.

A half-court heave by Terrell Holloway (16 points) was never close.

Richmond never trailed in the overtime after Gonzalvez hit only his second 3-pointer in a game where he was 3-of-11 from long range.

Crawford closed the gap to 76-75 with two free throws, but Xavier couldn’t take advantage of opportunities to come all the way back.

Down 83-80 with 36 seconds to play, Holloway missed the second of two free throws and Jason Love got the rebound and missed a layup.

Trailing 85-83 after Holloway hit a 3-pointer with 25.2 seconds left, Xavier had its hands on the inbounds pass but could not hold on. Dan Geriot and Anderson then each hit two free throws to ice the game.

Xavier led by as many as nine points in the second half and was still ahead 60-56 after Jamel McLean hit two free throws with 7:59 to play.

The Spiders then went on a 9-2 spurt and took a 64-62 lead on a driving layup by Anderson.

Mark Lyons (13 points) answered for Xavier on the next possession, hitting a 3-pointer, and Crawford followed with a steal and dunk to push the lead to 67-64 with 5:02 to go.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

The Edmonds-Woodway bench reacts to a foul call during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 10

Warriors win battle of division champs.

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) smiles as head coach Nick Sirianni holds up the Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Eagles overwhelm Chiefs to win the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps did not vanquish the Kansas… Continue reading

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.