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ASU men's basketball eliminated by Richmond in overtime

Senior guard Promise Amukamara (center) celebrates with her team after they defeated UALR in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 23, 2015, at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The Sun Devils came from behind to defeat the Trojans 57-54 and advance to the Sweet 16. (Ben Moffat/The State Press)
Senior guard Promise Amukamara (center) celebrates with her team after they defeated UALR in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 23, 2015, at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The Sun Devils came from behind to defeat the Trojans 57-54 and advance to the Sweet 16. (Ben Moffat/The State Press)

Senior forward Shaquielle McKissic steals the ball and brings it back down to the Sun Devil rim against Cal on Saturday, March 7, 2015, at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The Sun Devils defeated the Golden Bears 74-70. (J. Bauer-Leffler/The State Press) Senior forward Shaquielle McKissic steals the ball and brings it back down to the Sun Devil rim against Cal on Saturday, March 7, 2015, at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The Sun Devils defeated the Golden Bears 74-70. (J. Bauer-Leffler/The State Press)

With a trip to the NIT quarterfinals on the line, the ASU men's basketball played its closest wire-to-wire game in weeks.

The Sun Devils (18-16, 9-9 Pac-12) fell to Richmond 76-70 in Richmond to end their season.

The Spiders (21-13, 12-6 A-10) jumped out to an early lead that they kept for most of the first half, led by senior guard Kendall Anthony's 12 first half points.

ASU took its first lead of the game with just about two minutes remaining in the first half, but went in to the locker rooms trailing 32-31.

In the second half, the Sun Devils were able to find a groove offensively, but could only extend their lead to as large as four.

Key to the game was junior forward Eric Jacobsen fouling out of the game with over five minutes left, leaving ASU unable to shut down the paint for the Spiders.

Both teams missed opportunities in the final minutes with the game tight, setting up a tie game with 20 seconds left. ASU had the ball and got off a good shot, but junior guard Gerry Blakes' shot hit rim and away so the game went into overtime.

In the extra period, the game continued to go back and forth, with neither team gaining an advantage larger than one score. The key play was when senior forward Jon Gilling fouled Anthony on a made 3-pointer to put the Spiders up by six.

Blakes missed a turnaround jumper with eight seconds left with ASU down two and Richmond made free throws to ice its win.

The Spiders will play Miami (FL) in the NIT quarterfinals.

Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or follow @Tonis_The_Tiger on Twitter.

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