Loretto, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team ran its winning streak in road games to four Saturday night with a 65-55 win over in-state rival Saint Francis (Pa.) at DeGol Arena. It marks the first time the Colonials have won four straight road games since the club posted five straight wins away from home during the 1993-94 campaign. The victory improves RMU to 13-6 overall on the 2007-08 season, including 4-2 in Northeast Conference play, while the Red Flash fell to 3-15 overall and 1-6 in league action.
Saint Francis (Pa.) held a 48-45 lead with 6:40 to go after a jumper from Steve Profeta, but back-to-back three-pointers from sophomore guard Jimmy Langhurst (Willard, Ohio / Willard) and junior guard Bateko Francisco (Paris, France / Fort Scott J.C.) gave the Colonials a 51-48 edge with 5:44 remaining. After a missed three-pointer by Chris Berry of the Red Flash, freshman guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) hit a runner in the lane to up Robert Morris to a 53-48 advantage. Bassirou Dieng closed the gap for SFU to 53-50 after a pair of free throws, but junior forward Ifeanyi Ehirim (Toronto, Ontario / Eldon Academy Prep) hit a layup to push the Colonial lead back to five, 55-50.
Ehirim would go 1-for-2 at the free-throw line with 3:08 to play to give Robert Morris a 56-50 advantage, and senior forward A.J. Jackson (Monessen, Pa. / Monessen) hit a jumper in the paint at the 2:07 mark to give RMU a 58-51 lead. In the last minute the Colonials finished 7-for-8 from the charity stripe to seal the win, including a 4-for-4 performance by Langhurst.
Robert Morris owned a 27-19 lead coming out of halftime, but Saint Francis (Pa.) used a 13-4 run to take a 32-31 lead with 15:01 remaining. The Red Flash eventually stretched their lead to 38-33 after a three-pointer from Cale Nelson, and the largest lead of the second half came with 11:01 to play when Chris Berry converted a layup to give SFU a 43-37 advantage.
In the first half RMU used a 12-4 run in the last 6:19 of the stanza to take a 27-19 lead into the locker room. Ehirim started the surge with a dunk and a free throw thanks to a foul by Profeta, while senior guard Tony Lee (Boston, Mass. / Charlestown) scored four points. Jackson paced the Colonials with 14 points and six rebounds in the win, while Langhurst added 12 points and three assists. Jackson also posted two blocks and two steals. Saint Francis (Pa.) was led by Devin Sweetney, who scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Dieng came off the bench to supply 11 points and eight rebounds.
Robert Morris returns home to the Charles L. Sewall Center to host Central Connecticut State Thursday, Jan. 23, for its next contest. Tip time is 7:00 p.m.
