Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. – St. Francis Brooklyn used a 17-8 run in the second half to turn a three-point deficit into a six-point lead en route to a 56-49 victory over the
Robert Morris University men's basketball team Saturday at the Pope P.E. Center.
In splitting its swing through Brooklyn, N.Y., RMU slipped to 3-14 overall, including 1-3 in the Northeast Conference, while the Terriers improved to 6-11 overall and 2-2 in league play.
Senior guard
Rodney Pryor hit a pair of free throws with 10:58 remaining that gave the Colonials a 30-27 advantage, but SFC put together its deciding run thanks to the long ball. Jon Doss, Yunus Hopkinson and Tyreek Jewell each connected from beyond the arc during the surge to bolster the Terriers.
Jewell's triple proved to be the biggest, as he connected with just 2:12 to play to give St. Francis Brooklyn a 44-38 advantage. Jewell would hit a pair at the free-throw line to give the Terriers their biggest lead, 46-39, but Robert Morris made one last charge.
Sophomore forward
Elijah Minnie and Pryor sandwiched a pair of three-pointers around a pair of free throws from Antonio Jenifer to help RMU trim its deficit to 48-45 with just 43 seconds remaining.
St. Francis Brooklyn struggled to get the ball in play after the triple from Pryor, with Jenifer's half court pass being intercepted by Pryor. The Colonials went for the tie, but Minnie's three-pointer was short, and Hopkinson came down with the rebound. He finished 6-for-6 at the stripe in the final 27 seconds to help seal the win for the Terriers.
"The tougher team won the game today," head coach
Andrew Toole said. "Neither team shot very well, but they figured out a way to win the game. It was on the glass. St. Francis put the pressure on us, pounding it in the paint. That helped them get to the free-throw line. We'll keep working. It doesn't get any easier. It's imperative that we're stronger and smarter with the ball moving forward."
The Terriers earned the win despite an RMU defense that limited SFC to 29.4 percent (15-for-51) shooting, including 18.2 percent (4-for-22) from beyond the arc. St. Francis Brooklyn started the game by hitting just one of its first 15 attempts from long range but finished 3-for-7 during the deciding run.
Robert Morris owned a 21-18 advantage at halftime and was able to grab a 28-25 edge with 12:43 to play after a three-pointer from freshman guard
Matty McConnell.
RMU's final lead came at the 8:13 mark of the second half, when freshman guard
Isaiah Still connected form beyond the arc, but the Colonials went without a field goal for almost seven minutes.
Pryor led all scorers in the game with 14 points and also grabbed nine rebounds. Minnie contributed 11 points and a pair of blocks, while junior guard
Kavon Stewart finished with nine points, five assists and three steals.
Jenifer, Jewell and Hopkinson each finished with 10 points to pace St. Francis Brooklyn, with Jenifer posting 14 rebounds. The Terriers dominated the glass, outrebounding the Colonials, 51-28.
Robert Morris returns home for a pair of league home games, beginning Thursday, Jan. 14, with a 7:00 p.m. tip against Mount St. Mary's at the Charles L. Sewall Center.
Stat Of The Night18.2 – Percent Robert Morris held its two opponents (8-for-44) in three-point shooting in Brooklyn, N.Y.
