Derrick Williams scored a career-best 26 points and grabbed 10 boards and Kendall Anthony scored nine of Richmond's final 10 points as the Spiders defeated Wake Forest 62-60 Saturday in a nonconference matchup.
Williams, who recorded a double-double in Richmond's overtime win against William & Mary, made 6 of 8 shots from the field and hit 13 of 15 free throws for the Spiders (6-2), who beat Wake Forest for the third straight time.
Anthony chipped in with 11 points for Richmond. His lone 3-pointer broke open a 54-54 tie with 1:09 left to play.
Madison Jones hit a layup to draw Wake Forest (3-4) within 57-56 with 16 seconds left, but Anthony hit four free throws down the stretch and Cedrick Lindsay added another to seal the win.
Devin Thomas led Wake Forest with 11 points and Tyler Cavanaugh added 10.
Williams, who entered the game as Richmond's second-leading scorer at 13 points per game, has topped his average in each of the Spiders' last three contests. The 6-foot-6 forward missed his first shot of the game but made his next three. His lone 3-pointer put Richmond ahead 7-6 and his three-point play at the end of the first half gave the Spiders a 32-27 advantage at intermission.
Wake Forest rallied to take its first lead of the second half, 49-48, behind Codi Miller-McIntyre's jumper at the 6:41 mark. But Williams answered with a layup and Richmond held the Demon Deacons to just two field goals the rest of the way.
''We executed our best down the stretch of the game,'' coach Chris Mooney said following the win. ''We did the things we needed to do to win and certainly made foul shots. Derrick (Williams) was tremendous from beginning to end. I am pleased with the win and looking forward to the next game.''
The Demon Deacons had opportunities to win but missed numerous layups and free throws in the second half.
On consecutive possessions with Richmond leading 50-49, Wake Forest's Cavanaugh missed a layup, Arnaud Adala Moto missed two free throws and Travis Mckie botched a layup.
''We lost by two, so if a couple of those went our way it might have been a different outcome.'' said McKie.
Wake Forest had another chance to rally, down 54-53 at the 2:31 mark, but Miller-McIntyre and Jones missed jumpers and McKie missed another layup.
From there, Richmond used Anthony's free throws to pull away.
Anthony, who is averaging 15 points off the bench for the Spiders, has hit 17 of 19 free throws taken in the final 5 minutes and in overtime of games this season. The sophomore has hit 32 of 36 free throws in all.
C.J. Harris entered the matchup as Wake Forest's leading scorer at 13.5 points per game but was held to just six points on 1-of-5 shooting.
Wake Forest leads the all-time series 38-12. But Richmond has won three straight against the Demon Deacons and improved to 46-8 in its last 54 home games dating back to last season.
