Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team opened its 2007-08 Northeast Conference schedule Saturday night at the Charles L. Sewall Center by dropping a 75-66 decision to in-state rival Saint Francis (Pa.). The loss was the second straight for the Colonials and dropped the club to 5-4 overall, including 0-1 in league play, while the Red Flash improved to 2-6 overall and 1-0 in NEC action.
The game featured 10 ties and 12 lead changes, but Saint Francis (Pa.) was able to take the lead for good, 65-64, with 3:02 remaining thanks to a pair of free throws by Cale Nelson. It was part of a 12-2 run by the Red Flash to close the game. RMU had taken a 64-63 lead after a layup from senior forward A.J. Jackson (Monessen, Pa. / Monessen) with 3:13 to play. The Red Flash led at halftime, 35-31, and used a 9-2 spurt out of the second-half gates to take their largest lead of the game, 44-33, with 17:21 to play. Chris Berry scored six points for Saint Francis (Pa.), while Steve Profeta added a three-pointer.
Senior guard Tony Lee (Boston, Mass. / Charlestown) answered Profeta's three-pointer with one of his own to jumpstart Robert Morris on a 13-2 run to close its deficit to 46-45. Junior guard Bateko Francisco (Paris, France / Fort Scott J.C.) also hit a three-pointer, while freshman guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep), Jackson and sophomore guard Mezie Nwigwe (Hyattsville, Md. / High Point) each scored two points. Despite the surge the Colonials weren't able to get the lead, as the Red Flash helped keep RMU at bay thanks to their free-throw shooting. Saint Francis (Pa.) hit 28 of its 34 opportunities (82.5 percent), including an 8-for-10 performance in the last 3:02.
In the first half Saint Francis (Pa.) used a 12-7 run in the last 5:27 to take a 35-31 edge into the break. Profeta hit a pair of three-pointers for the Red Flash during its spurt, while Nelson added six points. Devin Sweetney paced all scorers in the game with 19 points, while Berry added 15, Profeta 14 and Nelson 10 points. RMU was paced by Lee, who finished with 17 points, while Francisco added a career-high 16 points, Nwigwe a season-high 11 points and Jackson 10.
Robert Morris is next in action Monday, Dec. 17, when it travels to Youngstown, Ohio, for a 7:05 p.m. tilt at Youngstown State.
