RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — The Richmond Spiders used a dominant first-half offensive display to overwhelm the Virginia Military Institute Keydets, cruising to an 87-54 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at the Robins Center before a crowd of 4,393.

Richmond remained undefeated on the young season, improving to 4-0, while VMI saw its record level at 3-3.

The Spiders seized control of the game from the opening tip, establishing a commanding 49-26 lead by halftime. The offensive efficiency was stark, with Richmond shooting 56% from the field and 50% from three-point range in the first half. The Spiders’ ball movement and defensive pressure were key factors, as they recorded 12 assists and 12 steals for the game, compared to just three assists and three steals for the visiting Keydets.

VMI struggled to find any offensive rhythm, hampered by 16 turnovers and cold shooting. The Keydets finished the game shooting just 37% from the field and a dismal 26% from beyond the arc. Their offensive rating of 78.8 on 68 possessions underscored the difficulty of scoring against a disciplined Richmond defense.

The Spiders’ attack was balanced and efficient. AJ Lopez, a 6-foot-5 guard from Queens, New York, came off the bench to lead all scorers with 12 points, adding two blocks. Fellow reserve Aiden Argabright, a local product from Richmond, Virginia, chipped in 11 points and a game-high five assists. David Thomas contributed 10 points for a Richmond bench that provided a significant spark.

For VMI, Jaylen Pazon was a bright spot, scoring a team-high 14 points off the bench, including a late dunk. Cal Liston, who started and played 27 minutes, was held to seven points.

The game was never in doubt after Richmond’s initial burst. The Spiders opened the game on a 17-3 run, punctuated by early three-pointers from Mikkel Tyne and Mike Walz. VMI called a timeout less than two minutes into the game after falling behind 8-0, but was unable to stem the tide. Richmond’s lead ballooned to 23 points at the break and never dipped below 20 in the second half.

The Spiders finished the game shooting 56% from the field and 50% from three-point range. They also shared the ball effectively, with their 12 assists quadrupling VMI’s total. The Keydets’ three assists marked a season low.

Richmond, which entered the game as a heavy favorite according to pregame projections, has now won its first four games by an average margin of 20.5 points. The Spiders will look to continue their strong start when they host Gardner-Webb on Saturday.

Virginia Military Institute, which was coming off a narrow two-point loss to Jacksonville, will aim to regroup on the road at Stetson, also on Saturday.