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Men's Basketball
Geriot's career night helps Richmond dash Bonnies A-10 postseason hopes
Feb. 27, 2008
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Richmond sophomore Dan Geriot scored a career-best 35 points, including 21 in the first half, as the Spiders cruised to a 82-71 win and a season sweep of St. Bonaventure on Wednesday evening on Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center. Geriot is the second opposing player to score 30 or more points in the Reilly Center this season and in the process eliminated the Bonnies from having any chance in making the Atlantic 10 Tournament. With the win, the Spiders improved to 15-11 overall and more importantly 8-5 in the conference. Senior Michael Lee's ninth double-double of the season wasn't enough to keep the Bonnies (7-20, 1-12) from dropping their sixth straight game and fourth in a row at home. Lee finished with 22 points for his 15th game of 20 or more points and added 10 rebounds. Fellow senior Tyler Relph turned in another gutsy effort, contributing 18 points on 4-of-8 from beyond the arc and 6-of-6 from the free throw line in a full 40 minutes of work. Both team shot well from the floor as Richmond connected on 51 percent (28-55) of its field goals, while the Bonnies made 48 percent (23-48). The Spiders were able to get off seven more shots than the Brown and White due to a 16-to-8 assist/turnover ratio. The overwhelming difference in the game was Geriot, who sank 13 of his 17 shots on the night, including all five from three-point range. Geriot's big night didn't stop at the offensive end as the second-year center also grabbed 10 defensive rebounds and 13 total on the night. Richmond held a 32-26 edge going into halftime thanks to 21 points from Geriot, including a three-pointer that pushed the margin to six with four seconds to go. The opening five minutes of the final frame were nearly a mirror image of the first half as Richmond scored the opening nine points to take a commanding 41-26 edge. The Richmond lead reached as large as 20, 71-51, with 6:16 remaining in the game.
Behind five consecutive points from Relph, St. Bonaventure cut the deficit in half, 72-62, with three minutes remaining. Relph capped the run with a three-pointer after sinking his 34th and 35th consecutive free throws. The Bonnies cut the lead to nine on two occasions with under a minute to play, but it was too little too late as Richmond help on for its 15th win of the season. Four-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week Kevin Anderson poured in 17 points in the second half to top his career-high for the second time this season against the Brown and White. Sophomore David Gonzalvez was the other Spider in double figures with 11. Just two days removed from just their second 50-point outing in conference play, the Bonnies offensive woes continued in the early going as junior Tyler Benson's three-pointer from the right wing at the 15:10 mark were the team's first points of the game after falling behind 10-0. Geriot was anything but cold in the opening minutes, accounting for eight points during the run. Benson's three seemed to wake the Brown and White out of their offensive slumber, starting a 11-3 run that made it a one-possession game, at 13-11. Relph keyed the run as he followed Benson's shot with back-to-back three's of his own from the left side. The lead never left the Richmond sideline the rest of the half as they took a 32-26 lead into the locker room. With just three games remaining in the season, St. Bonaventure will head to Saint Louis on Saturday, March 1 for the first of its two remaining away games. Tip-off at the Scottrade Center is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central and 2 p.m. Eastern. Game Notes
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