The KeyBank Center will play host to a Saturday NCAA Tournament clash between the Richmond Spiders and the Providence Friars. The 12th seeded Spiders (24-12) won the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament and are averaging 71.6 points per game. On Thursday, Richmond held Iowa to 36 percent shooting during a 67-63 victory.
Richmond G Jacob Gilyard led all scorers with 24 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists. Tyler Burton contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Spiders.
The Providence Friars finished atop the Big East Conference standings with a 14-3 record and are also averaging 71.6 points per game. On Thursday, Providence snapped South Dakota State’s 21-game winning streak with a 66-57 victory. The fourth-seeded Friars (26-5) outrebounded the Jackrabbits by a 41-32 margin and led by as many as 14 points.
Al Durham and Noah Horchler scored 13 points apiece to lead Providence on a combined 10-for-24 from the field. Jared Bynum added 12 points in 25 minutes off the bench for the Friars.
