Davidson, Richmond Battle in Atlantic 10 Tournament Showdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 2025 Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament kicks off Wednesday when the 12th-seeded Richmond Spiders face the 13th-seeded Davidson Wildcats at Capital One Arena. The game is scheduled to tip off at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Richmond (10-21, 5-13 A-10) heads into the matchup following a narrow 64-60 loss to George Mason, marking their fourth consecutive defeat and sixth loss in eight games. Meanwhile, Davidson (16-15, 6-12 A-10) is on a similar trajectory, losing four straight after succumbing to St. Bonaventure 64-61 on Saturday.

Despite their respective struggles, Davidson enters the game as a 6.5-point favorite, according to the latest odds from SportsLine, with an over/under set at 130.5 points. Davidson won both regular-season meetings this year, including a convincing 71-60 victory in their last matchup on February 8.

“We need to tap into our competitive spirit and push forward,” Davidson head coach said in a recent interview. “This tournament is a new beginning for us, and we have to leave everything on the floor.”

Junior forward Reed Bailey has been pivotal for the Wildcats, scoring in double figures in 17 of his last 18 games. He averages 18.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while also leading the team during the season. Against Richmond, Bailey has excelled, averaging 28 points per game over two contests this season.

“Reed is a key player for us,” said Coach . “His ability to score consistently gives us a chance to win every game.”

For Richmond, senior forward Dusan Neskovic is their primary offensive option, averaging 13.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Neskovic has played well against Davidson, averaging 14 points and six rebounds in two games this season.

“We need to focus on our defense,” Richmond coach said. “If we can limit their scoring, we’ll have a chance to turn our fortunes around.”

Davidson’s Connor Kochera also poses a threat, having scored 25 points last Saturday. He has averaged 14.3 points throughout the season and has reached double figures in six straight games.

Both teams are looking to break a losing streak and find momentum as they journey into the conference playoffs. The Wildcats, who have a better assist-to-turnover ratio than Richmond, might capitalize on the Spider’s defensive struggles during this vital tournament matchup.

Before this first-round bout, SportsLine’s betting model predicted a combined 142 points for the game, leaning towards an ‘Over’ outcome. This season, Davidson’s offense has been more reliable, comparing to Richmond’s, which has dropped significantly below its average.

“Each team has something to prove, and it will be exciting to watch,” said analyst . “The stakes are high, and both programs are eager to turn their seasons around.”