March 19, 2003

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Rob Sanders had 16 points and Providence held Richmond to 29 percent shooting from the field as the Friars beat the Spiders 67-49 in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament Wednesday.

Sanders led all five Providence (17-13) starters in double figures. Donnie McGrath had 13 points, while Ryan Gomes, Marcus Douthit and Sheiku Kabba each had 10.

Richmond's three leading scorers, Mike Skrocki, Tony Dobbins and Jeff Myers, combined to miss 21 of 23 field goal attempts. The Spiders (15-14) were 3 of 23 from 3-point range and never got closer than nine in the second half.

The Friars took the lead for good at 8-6 after McGrath hit a jumper with 16:41 remaining in the first half. Richmond managed only eight points over the first 12:50 of the game and trailed 31-20 at halftime.

Jamal Scott led the Spiders with 17 points.