Charleston So defeats Richmond 72-77
Charleston So Stuns Richmond in Thrilling 77-72 Upset
In a game for the ages, Charleston So (AWAY) pulled off a stunning 5-point victory over Richmond (HOME), 77-72, at Robins Center on Sunday night.
The primary storyline of this non-conference showdown was the back-and-forth nature of the contest, with neither team able to pull away from each other. At halftime, Charleston So held a slim lead of 39-37, but it was Richmond who regained the momentum in the second half, trimming the deficit to just two points.
The largest leads of the night belonged to Richmond at 2 points and Charleston So at 10 points. However, it was the Monarchs' inability to build on their advantage that ultimately cost them the game. In contrast, Charleston So's Brycen Blaine continued his hot streak, scoring 23 points on 5-14 three-point shooting.
Blaine was instrumental in the Monarchs' comeback victory, with Luke Williams providing crucial support off the bench with 4 assists and 2 steals.
Richmond struggled to contain the Charleston So offense, particularly from beyond the arc. The Rams shot just 27% from three-point range, compared to the Monarchs' 40%. Richmond's AJ Lopez led all scorers with 22 points, but it was not enough to overcome his team's struggles on defense.
Charleston So's balanced attack and stifling defense ultimately proved to be too much for Richmond. The Monarchs outrebounded their opponents 47-39 and held a significant advantage in turnovers, committing just 13 while forcing 9 on the Rams.
The game was marked by several key moments, but none more dramatic than when Charleston So's Brycen Blaine hit a crucial three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining to put his team up by 6 points. Richmond fought back, but could never quite close the gap.
In the end, it was Charleston So who emerged victorious, handing Richmond their first loss of the season. The Monarchs' victory marked a significant upset, as they were heavy favorites to win going into the game.
For Charleston So, this win marked a major milestone in their non-conference schedule and sets them up for a promising stretch of games in the coming weeks. For Richmond, it was a tough pill to swallow, but one that serves as a valuable learning experience heading into conference play.