RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — Richmond overcame a second-half deficit to force overtime and defeated Southern Illinois 93-84 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Robins Center. The Spiders (9-1) outscored the Salukis 19-10 in the extra period after rallying late in regulation. Richmond’s Aiden Argabright, a local guard, led all scorers with 18 points. Rolyns Aligbe paced Southern Illinois (6-5) with 19 points. Southern Illinois led 74-71 late before Richmond tied it to force overtime. The Spiders then dominated the extra session. Richmond shot 50% from the field while holding Southern Illinois to 39% shooting. Attendance was 4,539.

RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless momentum swings and a dramatic final-minute collapse, the Richmond Spiders outlasted the Southern Illinois Salukis 93-84 in overtime Saturday at a raucous Robins Center. A crowd of 4,539 watched as Richmond, now 9-1, squandered a late seven-point lead in regulation only to dominate the extra period, outscoring Southern Illinois 19-10 to secure its ninth consecutive victory. The Salukis fell to 6-5 with the non-conference road loss. The most critical sequence of the contest unfolded in the final 30 seconds of regulation. Trailing 74-70 after a Will Johnston jump shot, Southern Illinois mounted a desperate comeback. Rolyns Aligbe converted an offensive rebound with 35 seconds left to cut the deficit to two. Following a Richmond turnover forced by Quel’Ron House, House then calmly sank a jumper with 13 seconds remaining to tie the game at 74. Richmond had a chance to win it in the final seconds, but Johnston’s jumper missed, sending the game to overtime. The Spiders, however, shook off the disappointment and seized immediate control in the extra frame. The overtime period belonged almost entirely to Richmond guard Aiden Argabright. The Richmond native scored nine of his team-high 18 points in the five-minute session, all from the free-throw line, demonstrating composure under pressure. He finished having played 26 minutes, adding three assists. His back-to-back trips to the line early in overtime, resulting in four made free throws, established a lead the Spiders would not relinquish. Southern Illinois, which had fought back so valiantly, went cold. The Salukis managed just one field goal in the first four minutes of overtime, a layup by Jalen Haynes. Meanwhile, Richmond’s offense executed efficiently. A dunk by Mike Walz off a feed from Argabright and a crucial layup by AJ Lopez, assisted by Johnston, stretched the lead to 87-81 with just over a minute to play. The Spiders then sealed the game at the charity stripe, with Johnston and Argabright combining to hit six consecutive free throws in the final 39 seconds. The game was a tale of two halves and contrasting styles. Southern Illinois, led by the interior presence of Rolyns Aligbe, controlled the first half. The 6-foot-9 forward from Minneapolis scored 19 points and grabbed several key rebounds, helping the Salukis build a 36-32 halftime advantage. His counterpart, Quel’Ron House, added 17 points and four assists, providing backcourt stability. Richmond responded in the second half with a more balanced and perimeter-oriented attack. Johnston, the guard from Sydney, Australia, scored 15 of his 17 points after halftime, including two critical three-pointers. Jonathan Beagle provided a steadying force inside with 14 points, and the Spiders’ depth proved telling. Jaden Daughtry contributed 12 points off the bench, and Lopez added 11, including timely baskets when the offense stalled. The Spiders’ second-half adjustment to apply more defensive pressure disrupted Southern Illinois’ rhythm, forcing 11 turnovers after the break. Despite this, the Salukis’ resilience was on full display. Trailing by seven with under three minutes left in regulation, they closed the second half on a 7-0 run, capped by House’s clutch jumper, to force overtime. In the extra period, however, Richmond’ poise and precision at the free-throw line were the difference. The Spiders shot a remarkable 19 of 22 from the line in the second half and overtime combined, with Argabright’s flawless performance leading the way. Southern Illinois, which also received 12 points each from Haynes and Damien Mayo, could not find an answer for Richmond’s disciplined close-out. The victory extends Richmond’s strong start to the season, with their only loss coming by a single point at Furman in November. Southern Illinois, coming off a 29-point win over Tennessee-Martin, sees a two-game winning streak snapped as it heads into Missouri Valley Conference play. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Richmond had a 65.2% probability to win pregame and was installed as a 5-point favorite. The total score of 177 points sailed over the over/under line of 153. Richmond next travels to face Elon on Wednesday. Southern Illinois returns home to host Illinois State on Thursday.

RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — A surging Richmond team riding a six-game win streak will host a Southern Illinois squad looking to build momentum in a nonconference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Robins Center. The Spiders (8-1) have been one of the nation’s early surprises, with their only loss a 73-72 defeat at Furman on Nov. 27. They are coming off an 86-77 home victory over Old Dominion on Dec. 6, where they showcased a balanced attack. Junior forward Jaden Daughtry has been a key contributor, averaging 12.9 points and 4.6 rebounds. He is coming off a 17-point, 8-rebound performance against the Monarchs. Richmond averages 84.2 points per game and has scored at least 84 points in five of its last six outings. The Salukis (6-4) have alternated wins and losses over their past five games but are fresh off their most dominant performance, an 83-54 rout of Tennessee-Martin on Wednesday. Guard Davion Sykes led the way with 17 points in that win and is averaging 10.2 points per game. Southern Illinois has shown resilience in close games, with a 2-1 record in contests decided by five points or fewer, including an 86-84 road win at High Point on Dec. 3. This game represents a final tune-up for both teams before extensive conference play begins in January. Southern Illinois will open Missouri Valley Conference action next week, while Richmond will embark on Atlantic 10 play. The Spiders’ high-powered offense will be tested by a Salukis defense that has held three opponents under 60 points this season. Richmond’s ability to control the paint, led by Daughtry and center Mike Walz (11.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg), against Southern Illinois’s defensive pressure could dictate the tempo. Saturday’s contest tips off at 4:00 p.m. EST. Richmond leads the all-time series 2-1, though the teams have not met since 2013.