Robert Morris University guard Karvel Anderson staged a spectacular scoring display Thursday night at Saint Francis University while helping the Colonials cruise past the Red Flash, 84-70.

The junior zipped in 19 consecutive RMU points - without missing a shot -- in a 5:12 span in the first half.

"One of the most amazing things I've seen,'' RMU coach Andrew Toole said. "He was incredible.''

Again.

On Dec. 1, Anderson made all 10 of his field goal attempts, including 8-for-8 from beyond the arc, in a 28-point performance that led the Colonials to an 84-76 win over visiting Ohio University.

At Saint Francis, Anderson wasn't quite so prolific - he finished with 22 points - but he was still terrific.

"I've put up so many shots in my lifetime that whether I make or miss I always feel like the next shot's going to go in,'' Anderson said. "That always helps, but actually seeing the ball go in makes it a lot easier.''

Before Anderson made his first field goal Thursday night, the Colonials owned a 20-13 lead, thanks in large part to Velton Jones, who had a spurt of his own. The senior point guard scored 11 points in the first five minutes, getting the Colonials out to a 17-7 lead.

Then, with 9:56 left in the first half, it was Anderson's turn. Here's what he did:

He made a field goal.

He drained a three-pointer with 9:04 left.

He connected for another trey with 8:34 left.

He sank a third triple with 6:37 left.

He made yet another three-pointer with 6:17 left.

He converted a jumper with 5:24 left.

Who?

You know, Jack Taylor. He's the Grinnell College guard who on Nov. 20 scored 138 points in a game against Faith Baptist Bible.

Had Anderson maintained his scoring pace over a 40-minute game he'd have scored about 150 points against Saint Francis.

OK. It didn't happen. No doubt wouldn't have happened. But that gives you some idea about the magnitude of Anderson's blitz of the Red Flash.

"After Karvel made a few shots, we allowed him to catch the ball too much,'' Red Flash coach Rob Krimmel said. "We had to make someone else beat us.''

And "someone else'' did.

Sophomore Lucky Jones scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half to help the Colonials' finish their fifth consecutive victory and raise their overall record to 13-7 and their Northeast Conference mark to 5-2.

This game featured more significant points, too.

Senior Russell Johnson scored 12 points and became the 21st Colonial in the program's 1,000-point club. He reached 999 points with a three with 3:08 left in the first half, then wasted little time getting to 1,001. Thirty-seven seconds later Johnson's field goal moved his past Wesley Fluellen (1997-2002) and into 20th place on the all-time scoring chart.

Johnson also has 654 rebounds, which ranks fifth all-time at RMU, and is one of only 12 players to have scored 1,000 points and grab 500 rebounds.

While we're talking about points, let's not forget the eight points that freshman Stephan Hawkins scored Thursday night. He made his second collegiate start because Mike McFadden couldn't play - yes, still another missed game by an RMU post player - because of leg and hip issues.

Let's recap this interior problem.

The Colonials lost senior Lijah Thompson for the year before the season even started because of a knee injury. McFadden's been hobbled much of the season. Junior Vaughn Morgan left the team two weeks ago.

That's putting more of a burden on Hawkins and sophomore Keith Armstrong, who made his season debut Thursday night. Armstrong scored three points in 10 minutes off the bench.

"Both of those guys did what we asked of them,'' Toole said. "We're going to need them.''

Hawkins has made some impressive strides recently.

"We've done some things to kind of simplify things for him, and I think that's helped him a lot,'' Toole said. "Obviously with some of our departures we don't really have much of an option, and he's got to go in there and he's got to perform. In the last few games he's been really effective. As he continues to get more comfortable, he's going to continue to make some more of those plays. He's also going to continue to finish some more of those buckets around the basket and finish some of those offensive rebounds.''

Because of McFadden's absence and the inexperience the Colonials had in the middle, Robert Morris went to more of a perimeter game against the Red Flash.

"We don't always love to do that,'' Toole said.

However, his team - led by Anderson - responded with 13 makes in 27 casts from beyond the arc.

Saint Francis U. also was short-handed. Veteran guard Umar Shannon (13.4 points per game) was out because of an ankle problem. Freshman forward Stephon Mosley (8.9 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game) also didn't play because of an injury.

Those absences focused even more attention on sophomore Earl Brown, who entered the game with a streak of seven consecutive double-doubles. The Colonials ended that streak. Brown scored 11 points but grabbed only five rebounds.

"We had to contain him, and I felt we did a good job,'' Velton Jones said.

While the Colonial offensive numbers were just dandy Thursday night, Toole wasn't happy with his team's defense. The Red Flash shot 55.6 percent from the field.

"I thought (our defense) was poor,'' Toole said. "We had some (young players) who couldn't make that next rotation, that next (switch). At some point, we're going to need to get some stops, and my concern is that we're going to learn the hard way. If we can't get stops, we're going to be in trouble down the stretch. It was always one guy breaking down. We can't have one guy breaking down.''

Toole was well aware that the Colonials stretched to their lead to 22 points early in the second half and that a resultant relaxation defensively could be expected.

"I know when you're feasting on one end, you might relax,'' he said, "It's hard to maintain defensive intensity, but we have to win that battle. The way you put teams away is on the defensive end.''

UP NEXT: The Colonials host Mount St. Mary's (2-5, 7-11) Saturday night at the Charles L. Sewall Center. The Mountaineers lost to visiting Wagner, 52-50, Thursday night after leading virtually the entire game. Wagner, which received more points from its bench (28) than its starters (24), took the lead for good on a steal and layup by Kenny Ortiz with 26 seconds remaining. That completed a Seahawk comeback which began with nine and-a-half minutes left when Wagner trailed, 43-35.

"Mount St. Mary's plays a hectic style,'' Toole said. "We're going to have to take care of the basketball.''

NEC NUGGETS: Velton Jones' 15 points Thursday raised his career total to 1,490, pushing him past Tony Lee (1,489) and into seventh place on the Colonials' career scoring list. Forest Grant (1980-84) is sixth with 1,494 points ... In building a 47-31 halftime lead at St. Francis U., the Colonials had 15 assists and only one turnover ... Sacred Heart, which shares second place with Robert Morris, Thursday night ended NEC-leading Bryant's eight-game winning streak with an impressive 87-76 win against the visiting Bulldogs. "A statement game,'' Sacred Heart's Shane Gibson told The Connecticut Post. "I think we opened some eyes. People probably were thinking that we were going to lose to Bryant, but this lets them know that we're for real and that you're going to have to come to play when you play us.'' Gibson scored 26 points and extended his streak of 20-point games to six. He's averaging 25.8 points per game in his streak. The Pioneers shot a season-high 61.1 percent (33-of-54) and were up by 20 points with 5:25 remaining. Dyami Starks led Bryant with 28 points. Luis Montes had 16 points for the Pioneers on an 8-for-8 shooting night. Phil Gaetano had a career-high 11 assists ... LIU Brooklyn outscored host St. Francis Brooklyn, 57-35, in the second half and won, 78-68, for its fourth consecutive victory. The Terriers led, 40-26, four minutes into the second half, but the Blackbirds went on a 38-10 run to take control. Jamal Olasewere had a 20-11 double-double for the Blackbirds, who also received 22 points from C.J. Garner and 11 assists from Jason Brickman. Jalen Cannon had a 21-10 double-double for the Terriers ... Host Quinnipiac turned back Central Connecticut State, 85-78, behind 18 points from Shaq Shannon (6-for-10 from international waters) and 13 points and 17 rebounds from Ike Azotam. Kyle Vinales scored 32 points for the Blue Devils, who lost leading rebounder Brandon Peel to an ankle injury early in the game and were just 12-of-22 from the free throw line. . .Monmouth also struggled from the line - the Hawks were only 10-of-22 - but beat visiting Fairleigh Dickinson, 73-54. Dion Nesmith scored 21 and freshman Christian White added 18 for the Hawks. Mequan Bolding scored 18 for FDU, which lost its fourth straight game ... For those interested, Grinnell's Taylor is averaging 36.3 points per game but left a game against Cornell College, Jan. 9, with an injury and hasn't played since.