Richmond Spiders vs Toledo Rockets
Richmond rallies to win opening game of NIT 76-66
DENTON, Texas -- — Jacob Gilyard and Tyler Burton scored 18 points each and Richmond overcame the absence of their top two scorers to beat Toledo 76-66 in the opening game of the NIT Tournament on Wednesday.
A basket by Matt Grace — making his first start in his 82nd career game at Richmond — with under 12 minutes left gave the Spiders their first lead since 2-0. After 10 lead changes over 5 1/2 minutes, Nathan Cayo scored seven points in a 9-0 run that left Richmond ahead 66-58. A 3-pointer by Jacob Gilyard made it 71-62 with 1:35 to go.
The two-seed Spiders (14-8) were without Blake Francis (16.1 ppg), who hurt his back in their regular-season finale, and Grant Golden (12.7), who has been limited by a finger he broke in a Feb. 23 game.
Burton grabbed 10 rebounds in picking up his third double-double this season. Gilyard had four assists to become the program's career leader with 577, passing Greg Beckwith (1982-86, 573). Cayo added 15 points and Souleymane Koureissi 10.
Ryan Rollins scored 18 points, but 16 came in the first half when three-seed Toledo (21-9) took a 38-32 lead. Setric Millner Jr. added 13 points and Spencer Littleson 11. Mid-American Conference player of the year Marreon Jackson scored 10 points. Toledo shot only 28% in the second half, including 1 of 14 from the arc.
Richmond will play the winner of Saturday's game between Saint Louis and Mississippi State in a quarterfinal on March 25.
The tournament, limited to 16 teams instead of 32 this season, is taking place in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area at the University of North Texas Coliseum in Denton and at the Comerica Center in Frisco.
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Game Information
Denton, TX
Referee:Amy Bonner
Referee:Kerby Sitton
Referee:Trent Dews
2025-26 Standings
| Mid-American ConferenceMid-American Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 18-0 | - | 32-2 |
| Akron | 17-1 | 1 | 29-6 |
| Kent State | 14-4 | 4 | 24-10 |
| Toledo | 11-7 | 7 | 19-15 |
| Bowling Green | 9-9 | 9 | 18-14 |
| Ohio | 9-9 | 9 | 15-17 |
| Buffalo | 7-11 | 11 | 17-15 |
| Massachusetts | 7-11 | 11 | 17-16 |
| Ball State | 7-11 | 11 | 12-19 |
| Central Michigan | 6-12 | 12 | 10-21 |
| Western Michigan | 4-14 | 14 | 10-21 |
| Eastern Michigan | 4-14 | 14 | 10-21 |
| Northern Illinois | 4-14 | 14 | 9-21 |
| Atlantic 10 ConferenceAtlantic 10 Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis | 15-3 | - | 29-6 |
| VCU | 15-3 | - | 28-8 |
| Saint Joseph's | 13-5 | 2 | 24-12 |
| Dayton | 12-6 | 3 | 25-12 |
| George Mason | 11-7 | 4 | 23-10 |
| Davidson | 10-8 | 5 | 20-14 |
| Duquesne | 9-9 | 6 | 18-15 |
| George Washington | 8-10 | 7 | 19-16 |
| Fordham | 8-10 | 7 | 17-15 |
| Rhode Island | 7-11 | 8 | 16-16 |
| Richmond | 5-13 | 10 | 15-17 |
| La Salle | 5-13 | 10 | 9-23 |
| St. Bonaventure | 4-14 | 11 | 17-17 |
| Loyola Chicago | 4-14 | 11 | 9-24 |
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