PHILADELPHIA (AP) T.J. Cline scored 21 points and Richmond cruised to a 64-52 win over La Salle on Saturday to maintain its third place position in the Atlantic 10 Conference standings.

The Spiders (15-9, 9-3), who have won four of five; currently sit one game behind first place Dayton.

Cline also finished with eight rebounds and seven assists. Nick Sherod added 16 points and ShawnDre' Jones had 12 with five assists for Richmond.

The key to the Spiders victory was a stifling defensive effort. Richmond held the Explorers (13-10, 7-5) to 40.4 percent shooting, 20 percent from 3-point range, and forced 24 turnovers.

B.J. Johnson had 18 points to lead La Salle.

The score was tied at 45 with 10:18 left when Cline finished a layup which sparked a 17-2 Spiders run and a 62-47 lead. The Explorers, who scored just seven points in the final 10 minutes, never recovered.

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