Richmond holds on to beat Duquesne in final moments

Jacob Gilyard and Blake Francis scored 17 points apiece as Richmond topped Duquesne, 79-72, at home Saturday.

Tyler Burton added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Spiders (12-5, 5-3 Atlantic 10 Conference).

Richmond scored the final seven points of the game after Michael Hughes tied the score with a layup with just under a minute to play. Gilyard and Francis each hit two free throws before Gilyard knocked down a 3pointer at the buzzer.

Hughes scored a seasonhigh 20 points plus 9 rebounds and 3 assists for the Dukes (7-7, 6-6).

More men’s games

West Virginia 84, Texas 82: Bob Huggins didn’t divulge exactly how he lit into his West Virginia team at halftime when it trailed Texas by 10 points in Austin, Texas.

“You wouldn’t want to print what was said,” Mountaineers coach said.

The message registered. Sean McNeil and the No. 13ranked Mountaineers (15-6, 8-4 Big 12) erased a 19point deficit in the second half, then withstood a flurry of last-second misses to hold off the Longhorns (13-6, 7-5).

Detroit Mercy 80, Robert Morris 61: The Colonials (414, 3-12 Horizon League) concluded the regular season, falling to host Detroit Mercy (11-9, 10-6). The the

Titans used a 27-9 run over the first eight-and-a-half minutes of the second half to turn a seven-point deficit at the break into an 11-point advantage. Senior forward Charles Bain led the Colonials with 18 points.

Women’s games

Robert Morris 77, Purdue Fort Wayne 63: The Colonials (4-12, 4-12 Horizon League) got double-digit points from each member of the starting five to bounce back with a win over Purdue Fort Wayne (1 -21, 1-19) in both teams’ regular-season finale. Senior forward Holly Forbes led Robert Morris with 16 points. Robert Morris begins its Horizon League tournament trek at 7 p.m. Thursday when it travels to Northern Kentucky.

West Virginia 81, TCU 78: Esmery Martinez scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and the No. 19 Mountainers (17-3, 11-3 Big 12) overcame a 38-point performance by Lauren Heard and held on to defeat TCU (8-11, 3-11).