University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Richmond *
Men's Basketball Edges Out Richmond, 54-53
February 12, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Feb 12, 2003
AMHERST, Mass. (AP) - Anthony Anderson scored 16 points and Massachusetts held off a second-half Richmond run for a 54-53 win on Wednesday night.
The Minutemen (9-14, 3-7 Atlantic 10) led 25-14 at halftime and pulled ahead by 20, 36-16, after a three-point play by Jackie Rogers early in the second half.
Jeff Myers, who finished with 15 points, led Richmond (12-9, 6-4) on an 18-2 run including 13 consecutive points, to pull within four, 38-34.
Consecutive baskets by Tony Dobbins tied the score at 43-43 with 8:23 to play.
UMass responded with a 3-pointer by Anderson and two free throws each by Marcus Cox and Michael Lasme.
Richmond, which shot 27 percent from the field in the game, made only two baskets in the final 8:23, the second a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Patrick O'Malley. The Spiders, who have now lost three in a row, shot just 19 percent in the first half and forward Mike Skrocki was 1-for-17 for the game. Their 14 first-half points were a record low for the Mullins Center.
Rogers had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Minutemen and Dobbins finished with 15 for Richmond.
UMass took control in the first half on a pair of 3-pointers by Anderson.
