The Davidson Wildcats, led by Roberts Blums' 18 points and 13 rebounds, held off a late surge by the Richmond Spiders to secure a 65-63 victory at the John M. Belk Arena, their 16th win of the season. The Spiders, who trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half, cut the deficit to just 2 points with 1:23 remaining, but were unable to overcome the Wildcats' defense, which limited them to just 39 second-half points. Over their last 5 games, the Wildcats have averaged 71.2 points per game, while allowing 67.8 points per contest, outscoring their opponents by an average of 3.4 points. In contrast, the Spiders have struggled, averaging 69.8 points per game while allowing 77.2 points per contest, resulting in a -7.4 point differential over their last 5 games. The Wildcats' recent form has been inconsistent, with a 2-3 record over their last 5 games, including a 59-70 loss to Dayton and an 84-64 win over Loyola Chicago.
The Spiders, who have now lost 4 of their last 5 games, were led by Aiden Argabright's 16 points, while AJ Lopez added 15 points and 5 rebounds. Despite their recent struggles, the Spiders have shown flashes of brilliance, including an 82-70 win over George Mason just 2 games ago. However, their inability to consistently score and defend has hindered their progress, and they now find themselves with a 14-13 record and a NET rank of 142. The Wildcats, on the other hand, have been buoyed by the play of Blums, who has averaged 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds over his last 4 games, including a 22-point, 12-rebound performance in a 79-54 win over the Spiders just 2 weeks ago.
Richmond Spiders' Aiden Argabright Scores 16 Points in Loss to Davidson Wildcats
The Wildcats' top performers, including Blums, Josh Scovens, and Parker Friedrichsen, all made significant contributions to the win, with Scovens and Friedrichsen combining for 21 points. However, it was Blums who stole the show, hitting several big shots in the second half to help the Wildcats maintain their lead. In contrast, the Spiders' top performers, including Argabright, Lopez, and Mikkel Tyne, were unable to overcome the Wildcats' defense, which limited them to just 24 first-half points. Argabright, in particular, struggled in the first half, scoring just 4 points on 2-7 shooting, but rebounded in the second half, scoring 12 points on 5-9 shooting.
The CHD Scout prediction model correctly predicted a Wildcats win, with a forecasted margin of 4.4 points.
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The model's accuracy can be attributed to its ability to account for the Wildcats' strong defensive performance, which has been a hallmark of their success this season. Over their last 5 games, the Wildcats have allowed an average of 67.8 points per contest, while the Spiders have allowed an average of 77.2 points per game. This disparity in defensive performance ultimately was the difference in the game, as the Wildcats were able to limit the Spiders to just 63 points, 12 points below their season average. The model also took into account the Wildcats' recent form, including their 2-3 record over their last 5 games, as well as the Spiders' struggles, including their 1-4 record over their last 5 games.
The win is a significant one for the Wildcats, who are now 16-10 on the season and have improved their NET rank to 104. With just a few games remaining in the regular season, the Wildcats are in a good position to secure a postseason berth, although their recent inconsistency has raised some concerns. The Spiders, on the other hand, are now 14-13 and have a NET rank of 142, making their path to the postseason much more difficult. Over their last 5 games, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents by an average of 3.4 points, while the Spiders have been outscored by an average of 7.4 points.
The loss is a significant blow to the Spiders' postseason hopes, as they now find themselves with a 1-4 record over their last 5 games and a NET rank of 142. In contrast, the Wildcats' win has improved their tournament picture, as they now have a 16-10 record and a NET rank of 104. The Wildcats' quad 3 win over the Spiders is a significant one, as it gives them a much-needed boost in the NET rankings. The Spiders, on the other hand, are now in danger of falling off the bubble, with their quad 2 loss to the Wildcats being a significant setback. With just a few games remaining in the regular season, the Wildcats are in a good position to secure a postseason berth, while the Spiders must win out in order to have any chance of making the tournament.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with the Wildcats taking an early 11-4 lead before the Spiders cut the deficit to 24-20 at halftime. The Wildcats extended their lead to 11 points in the second half, but the Spiders refused to give up, cutting the deficit to just 2 points with 1:23 remaining. However, the Wildcats were able to hold on, thanks in large part to the play of Blums, who scored 10 points in the second half, including several big shots late. The Spiders, on the other hand, were unable to overcome their poor first-half performance, which saw them score just 24 points on 9-30 shooting. In the second half, the Spiders improved to 15-30 shooting, but it was too little, too late, as they were unable to overcome the Wildcats' strong defensive performance.