Currently, the Spiders are tied for last place in Atlantic 10 with La Salle (10-18 overall, 3-11 Atlantic 10) with two games left to play. The two teams with the worst records will be left home when the A-10 holds its 12-team tourney in Atlantic City starting March 7. In order to qualify for the last of the 12 spots, the Explorers will need to finish ahead of Saint Bonaventure (7-20 overall, 4-10 Atlantic 10) and La Salle.

With a trip to Saint Louis (Feb. 28) and the regular season finale vs. Rhode Island (March 3), the Spiders will be underdogs in both games and it'll be a long shot for them to win either game. But the Spiders, who regularly play five freshmen in their rotation and will lose only one senior (6-5 guard Pete Thomas) to graduation, figure to be markedly better in 2007-08.

In fact, the performances of freshman guard David Gonzalvez (21 points) and freshman center Dan Geriot (18 points), both on 7-for-11 shooting in the Feb. 24 win over Saint Joseph's, were yet another preview of what's to come for the Spiders.

--Senior swingman Peter Thomas received a long standing ovation during "Senior Night" against Saint Joseph's on Feb. 24. The fans were appreciative of Thomas' four-year career spanning from freshmen walk-on to senior captain on scholarship. Thomas, in his 57th consecutive start and 103rd career game at Richmond, contributed seven points on perfect 2-for-2 shooting from the field and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. He also dished out three assists in the 34 minutes he played.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm very happy for our guys. It's been a struggle and tonight I thought we played clearly our best game of the season. I thought we were able to really control the game throughout." -- Richmond coach Chris Mooney on his team's 78-68 upset win over Saint Joseph's on Feb. 24.

--Against Saint Joseph's, Dan Geriot scored 18 points, the eighth time he has scored 16 points or more. It was his 16th game in double-figures, including the last two, and three of the last four contests. Geriot also tied a career high with six rebounds, the fourth time this season he has grabbed six rebounds.

PLAYER ROTATION: Usual Starters -- G Brian Morris, G Ryan Butler, G David Gonzalvez, C Dan Geriot, F Peter Thomas. Key Subs -- F Oumar Sylla , C Drew Crank, F Jahron Giddings, F David Brewster.

GAME REVIEW:

Feb. 17: Xavier 71, Richmond 50

Feb. 21: George Washington 68, Richmond 49

Feb. 24: Richmond 78, Saint Joseph's 68

GAME PREVIEW:

at Saint Louis, Wednesday, Feb. 28

vs. Rhode Island, Saturday, March 3

at Atlantic 10 Tournament, March 7-10 (Atlantic City, N.J.)

KEYS: With a spot in the A-10 tourney still a long shot, the biggest key for Chris Mooney and his staff is to have his kids not quit. They play two tough foes to finish the season -- they'll be heavy underdogs in each game -- but his extremely young team can't pack it in. They need to finish the season playing hard, so that they'll have something to build upon fir next year.

ROSTER REPORT:

--The University of Richmond has applied for a medical redshirt season for senior post man Gaston Moliva. The 6-7, 230-pounder did not appear in Richmond's first 13 games while recovering from preseason foot surgery (stress fracture). Moliva played vs. Fordham on Jan. 6, scoring nine points and grabbing eight rebounds in 28 minutes during a 58-55 defeat. But he experienced foot pain following that game and has not played since.