RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — In a high-octane Atlantic 10 Conference shootout where neither defense could find consistent answers, the Richmond Spiders outlasted the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies 99-94 on Saturday at Robins Center.

A crowd of 5,502 saw the Spiders erase a halftime deficit with a torrid second-half offensive display, avenging a loss from earlier in the season and moving above .500 in the process. The game was a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 7, which Richmond won 89-80, with both offenses operating at a remarkably efficient clip this time.

Saint Bonaventure led 46-44 at halftime behind a balanced attack, but Richmond exploded for 55 points in the second half. The Spiders shot 50% from the field after the break and, crucially, made 13 of 16 free throws in the final 20 minutes to seal the victory. The Bonnies, despite scoring 48 points of their own in the second half, could not match Richmond’s precision down the stretch.

The most important part of the game was Richmond’s collective response to a spectacular individual performance. Saint Bonaventure guard Darryl Simmons, a 5-foot-10 sophomore from Detroit, poured in a game-high 30 points and dished out five assists in 40 minutes. His backcourt brilliance kept the Bonnies within striking distance throughout the frantic final minutes.

However, Richmond countered with a more diversified scoring effort. Will Johnston, a 6-3 guard from Sydney, Australia, led the Spiders with 21 points, including several critical baskets and free throws in the closing moments. AJ Lopez, a 6-5 guard from Queens, New York, added 20 points, and local product Aiden Argabright contributed 14 points off the bench. The Spiders’ ball movement was key, as center Mike Walz, a 6-11 sophomore, facilitated the offense with a game-high six assists to go with eight points.

The Bonnies also received strong performances from Daniel Egbuniwe, who scored 22 points, and Frank Mitchell, who added 16 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Saint Bonaventure shot 53% from the field and 46.2% from three-point range but were ultimately undone by Richmond’s slightly superior efficiency and ability to get to the foul line. The Spiders attempted 28 free throws to the Bonnies’ 16, making 21.

Statistically, the game was a showcase of offensive efficiency. Richmond scored 99 points on 74 possessions, an offensive rating of 133.2. Saint Bonaventure was nearly as potent, posting a 126.0 offensive rating with 94 points on 75 trips. The Spiders edged the Bonnies in points off turnovers (15-12) and committed only eight turnovers themselves.

With the win, Richmond improved to 15-13 overall. Saint Bonaventure fell to 14-13. Both teams now look ahead to the final stretch of the regular season, with the Spiders traveling to face Loyola Chicago next Saturday and the Bonnies hosting Rhode Island on Wednesday.