Senior guard Tony Murphy scored a game-high 29 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with two-tenths of a second left, to lift Norfolk State to a 72-69 win over Richmond in the Spartans’ season opener on Saturday night at the Robins Center.

The Spartans (1-0) outscored the Spiders (1-2) 16-2 over the final 4 minutes, 41 seconds to rally from a double-digit deficit and earn their first win in a season-opener since 1998-99. Murphy scored NSU’s final seven points, all coming in the final 75 seconds.

Murphy was 7-of-13 from 3-point range as the Spartans shot 44 percent (11-of-25) from behind the arc. The seven 3-pointers ties a single-game school record, which Murphy already shared with Ralph Tally.

Richmond, which led the entire second half before Murphy’s shot at the horn, took a 67-56 lead on two free throws by Oumar Sylla with 4:41 left. But the Spartans clamped down on defense after that, holding UR to 1-of-6 shooting and forcing four turnovers the rest of the way.

Larry Vickers (Virginia Beach, Va.), who pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds, scored the next four points to get NSU within seven. Then, Murphy cut the deficit to four with his sixth 3-pointer of the night.

A Vickers steal ignited a fast-break opportunity for Michael Deloach (Rocky Mount, N.C.), whose layup brought NSU within two. David Gonzalvez extended the Spiders’ lead to four at 69-65 with 1:41 remaining.

But Murphy would not be denied. His steal and layup brought NSU within two with 1:14 left. UR missed two shots at the other end, one thanks to a block by Vickers, and Murphy converted another layup to force the first tie of the second half.

Another turnover by Gonzalvez, this one on a backcourt violation, set the stage for Murphy’s final shot.

After shooting 47 percent in the first half, the hosts were limited to 32 percent accuracy in the final 20 minutes. Dan Geriot had 21 points and 15 rebounds for UR. Gonzalvez had 15 points and Sylla 10.

Murphy had three of NSU’s eight steals. Vickers had two and also blocked two shots. Deloach had nine points and a career-high seven rebounds.

The Spartans return to action Tuesday night in a 7 p.m. game at Longwood.