• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Gonzalvez, Geriot propel Richmond past Dayton

Jan 27, 2008 - 4:25 AM RICHMOND, Virginia (Ticker) -- David Gonzalvez scored 20 points and Dan Geriot added 19 as Richmond toppled 19th-ranked Dayton, 80-63, on Saturday in an Atlantic 10 Conference contest.

The home victory was Richmond's first over a ranked opponent since defeating then-No. 14 Georgia Tech in 1990.

"You don't have many opportunities to take on a nationally ranked opponent in your own building," Richmond coach Chris Mooney said. "I thought we played very well. I thought that we had control of the game in the first half."

The loss was the third straight for the Flyers (14-4, 2-3 A-10), who had won 13 straight games prior to the skid.

Although the Spiders (10-8, 3-2) have not played since a 76-67 setback to La Salle last Saturday, Gonzalvez and Geriot showed little in terms of rust against Dayton.

Gonzalvez, a sophomore guard, finished 7-of-14 from the field and 6-of-8 from 3-point range, while Geriot was equally as good. The sophomore big man shot 6-of-10 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.

"I told Dan (Geriot), 'We've got to be the most aggressive we have been all season. I am going to attack every time I get the ball every possession. I am either going to play horrible or have a great game.'"

Mooney also noted Richmond's aggressive play.

"I thought that we were aggressive and alert," he said. "People were able to make some plays."

Richmond benefited from a 22-5 run in a seven-minute stretch to race out to a 28-13 lead with 9:18 remaining in the first half.

"We had the game in our hands the whole game," Geriot said. "That's where we wanted to be."

Dayton offered a modest comeback, capped by senior guard Brian Roberts' 3-pointer with five minutes to go in the opening half to close the deficit to 36-26. Richmond, however, scored 10 of the next 11 points to take a 46-27 halftime lead.

The Flyers did manage to close within 13 points late in the second half, but Gonzalvez's 3-pointer with 2:54 remaining made it 70-52.

The Spiders finished with 10 steals - the fifth time in six games that they recorded double-digits in that department.

Roberts, who had only three points at the half, led the Flyers with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting.

"I was not aggressive in the first half and we came out as a team and played a lot better in the second half," Roberts said.

"We knew if we kept him( Roberts) out of the game, we had a chance to win," Gonzalvez said.

Dayton's leading scorer this season, Roberts was held to a season-low five points on just 2-of-5 shooting in a 69-43 loss at No. 22 Xavier on Thursday. The senior guard is averaging 19.2 points but has battling a sickness for a "better part of the month," according to coach Brian Gregory.

Andres Sandoval added 17 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field and 7-of-12 from the line.

Dayton coach Brian Gregory credited the play of both Gonzalvez and Geriot, but also noted something lacking from his team.

"From the tip off, our defensive intensity was not there," Gregory said. "We did not show poise and when compared to how Richmond was playing tonight, it was really apparent where we were lacking."