Richardson played collegiately at the
University of Montana. He was recruited to the
Big Sky Conference school by Hall of Fame Coach
Jud Heathcote after Richardson's Denver basketball friend David Berry had visited the school.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micheal_Ray_Richardson#cite_note-4">[4]</a>
As a freshman in 1974-1975
Montana went 21-8 and qualified for the
1975 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament, as Richardson averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds. The Grizzlies defeated
Utah State 79-63, before losing to the eventual National Champion
UCLA Bruins 67-64. Montana then lost to
UNLV in the regional 3rd place game.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micheal_Ray_Richardson#cite_note-5">[5]</a>
Richardson averaged 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists as a sophomore in 1975-1976, as Montana finished 13-12. After the season, Coach Heathcote left for
Michigan State University, where he would win the 1979 NCAA title.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micheal_Ray_Richardson#cite_note-6">[6]</a>
Under Coach
Jim Brandenburg, who had been an assistant under Heathcote, Richardson averaged 19.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists as Montana finished 18-8 in 1976-1977.<a href="
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micheal_Ray_Richardson#cite_note-7">[7]</a>
As a senior, Richardson averaged 24.2 points and 6.9 rebounds in 1977-1978, and Montana finished 20-8, capturing the Big Sky regular-season title