La Salle (17-8, 6-4) hit eight three-pointers in the first 20 minutes to jump to a 40-38 halftime lead. Guard Tyreek Duren netted a three just minutes into the contest to help the Explorers to an early 7-2 edge. But with less than 12 minutes to play, the Spiders closed to within 15-14. The Explorers answered with five threes, including two apiece from Ramon Galloway and Sam Mills. La Salle extended its lead to 32-21 before Richmond hit two threes of its own.
With less than 4 minutes to play prior to intermission, the Spiders were able to even up the contest twice. But Galloway made two free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining to send the Explorers into the locker room with a two-point advantage.
Richmond scored two three- pointers in the first 2 minutes of the second half to take a 44-40 lead. The Spiders maintained a lead until La Salle's Jerrell Wright dunked to tie the game at 50 with 14:36 left. Duren followed with a layup to put the Explorers ahead by two with 13:54 remaining. But the Spiders countered with another trey and La Salle didn't score again until Mills hit a layup to tie it, 54-54, with 11:02 left.
The Explorers held the lead twice more. The first time, back-to-back layups by Duren put the Explorers ahead, 73-71, with 3:36 left. A three-pointer by Mills with 1:13 left put the Explorers ahead, 76-74.
It was the last shot taken by La Salle.
Duren led the Explorers with a 17 points. Mills scored 16 points and Galloway added 15. Forward Jerrell Wright was the fourth Explorer to hit double digits, scoring 11 points. La Salle shot 70 percent from the foul line and was an impressive 10-for-17 (58.8 percent) from the three-point arc. The Explorers outshot Richmond from the field, 46.4 percent to 39.3.
Darien Brothers (13) and Wayne Sparrow (10) scored in double figures for Richmond.
