Darien Brothers stood out for the winning team. The 6-3 sophomore scored 16, including four 3-pointers, as the University of Richmond sacked St. Bonaventure 82-65 on Sunday in an Atlantic 10 Conference meeting before 7,291 at the Robins Center.
But that's not the game that Brothers' heroics were most obvious. Spiders coach Chris Mooney brought his players to the FieldTurf of Robins Stadium on Friday, the day after Richmond fell 73-53 at Temple.
"It's one thing to not win the game. We just didn't feel great about who we were or how we played,"
Mooney said. He sensed that his team needed a mental break, a team-building diversion to lighten up a tough day in a long season.
The Spiders played touch football, coaches vs. players. The younger team prevailed with Brothers, who's from Benedictine, starring at quarterback.
"It was a breather for us,"
UR forward Justin Harper said. "I think it really relaxed us."
Mooney acknowledged that if the Spiders had lost to the Bonnies and the subject of touch football was raised, he would certainly hear, "Why aren't you preparing for St. Bonaventure, you dope?"
But Richmond (21-7, 10-3 A-10) led for all of a couple of minutes. In a pregame ceremony, UR saluted its five seniors: Harper, guard Kevin Anderson, center Dan Geriot, forward Kevin Smith and reserve forward Kevin Hovde.
"We came out with so much energy. It needs to be seen every night for us,"
Anderson (12 points) said.
Harper scored 24 and had four blocks to lead the way. But if the parents of the seniors got together for a postgame dinner, each could brag about how his or her son played.
Harper efficiently scored on a powerful dunk off the dribble, on low-post moves and on jumpers. Anderson re-ignited UR with eight minutes left when St. Bonaventure (14-11, 6-6) reduced Richmond's lead to seven points.
The Bonnies "had a good stretch, and we needed something to pick us up at that moment,"
Anderson said. "I just decided to try to put the game on my back."
He hit three consecutive driving shots — one in transition — to enliven a good crowd and get the Spiders back on track.
"What Kevin can do and has done is just amazing,"
Mooney said. "I was glad to see how aggressive he was. I think we're at our best when he's the most aggressive."
Geriot (17 points) started the afternoon by hitting a pair of 3-pointers as the Bonnies came out focused on Harper and Anderson.
"The way we were moving, especially early on, all kinds of guys were wide open,"
Geriot said.
Smith had seven assists, four steals and a block. "An unsung hero,"
Bonnies' coach Mark Schmidt said of Smith. Hovde started and helped generate the Spiders' early-game intensity.
"They're very talented, and when they shoot the ball the way they did, they're tough to beat,"
Schmidt said. UR made 10 of 23 from 3-point distance and shot 50.8 percent overall.
* * * * *NOTES: Richmond honored its seniors though the Spiders have one more regular-season home game, Duquesne's visit on March 5. UR will be on spring break then. Sunday's ceremony included the support of Richmond students.
"Great for our seniors, who meant a tremendous amount [Sunday], and have meant so much more for our program over the last four and five years,"
Mooney said. Geriot and Hovde each spent a year redshirting due to injury.
Two of UR's last three regular-season games, its next two, are on the road. The Spiders play at Charlotte on Saturday at 7 p.m. UR beat Charlotte 71-59 at the Robins Center on Jan. 5.
