The Spiders had a chance at history Saturday evening in the Robins Center. All they needed to do was get by the hottest team in college basketball. 
 
Richmond entered with a nine-game win streak and a shot at posting 10 straight wins for the first time since 1935. But Dayton, ranked 16th in the AP Top 25, had won 13 straight games prior to Saturday, the longest active streak in Division I.
 
Fueled by a rowdy capacity crowd, the Spiders won the game 69-64, moving into sole possession of first place in the conference at 7-0 and improving to 15-5 overall.
 
"A great college basketball atmosphere, and a great game," said Spiders Coach Chris Mooney. "To be the kind of program that can be solid enough and good enough, and when that opportunity comes you can take advantage of it, that's something we're very proud of."
 
Richmond is 11-0 at home this season, the longest single-season home win streak in program history.

The Spiders held Dayton to a season-low 34 percent shooting from the field (20-59) and limited the Flyers to their third-fewest points in a game this season.
 
"The crowd was another defender on the floor for us. That was amazing," said Spiders center Neal Quinn.

Richmond’s win was the program’s 16th versus a top-25 team in 19 seasons under Mooney.

On Monday, the Spiders received four votes in the AP Top 25 College Basketball poll, their first appearance since October 2021.

Both the men (7-0 in the A-10) and women (8-1) are in first place in the conference. Women's basketball remains unbeaten at home, making Richmond one of four schools with its men's and women's teams still perfect at home this season.

Spiders guard Jordan King was named the A-10 Player of the Week for the second time in the last three weeks. King averaged 24.5 points while shooting 49 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range while leading Richmond to wins over George Washington and Dayton last week.
 
Up next, Richmond will play a pair of games on the road, traveling to Fordham tonight at 7 p.m. (broadcast on ESPN Plus and SNY) and visiting VCU on Saturday at 4 p.m. (on ESPNU).