Hamden, Conn. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team shot 61.1 percent (11-for-18) from beyond the arc and 54.2 percent (32-for-59) overall Saturday night en route to its second straight Northeast Conference win with an 86-79 victory against Quinnipiac at TD Banknorth Sports Center. The win, the third straight for the Colonials, improved RMU to 10-5 overall on the 2007-08 campaign, including 2-1 in NEC play, while the Bobcats fell to 6-8 overall and 2-1 in league action.
Each club got off to a hot start, as the first seven minutes featured three ties and eight lead changes. Senior A.J Jackson's (Monessen, Pa. / Monessen) jumper at the 12:34 mark started the Colonials on an 11-4 run to give RMU a 30-19 lead with 7:49 left before the break. Jackson scored five points during the spurt, while sophomore guards Jimmy Langhurst (Willard, Ohio / Willard) and Mezie Nwigwe (Hyattsville, Md. / High Point) each hit three-pointers. The Bobcats answered by scoring the next 10 points to close their deficit to one, 30-29, as James Feldeine scored five points, including a three-pointer, while Evann Baker hit a jumper from the baseline.
Despite the run, Quinnipiac couldn't regain the lead, tying the contest twice in the last 2:01 of the first half before junior guard Bateko Francisco (Paris, France / Fort Scott J.C.) hit a three-pointer with 43 seconds left before halftime to send Robert Morris into the break with a 42-39 edge.
Feldeine scored on a runner in the lane to pull the Bobcats within one, 41-40, to open the second half, but a 16-7 RMU surge allowed the Colonials to open up a 58-47 lead with 13:16 to play. Jackson scored six points during the salvo, while freshman guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) and Langhurst each hit big three-pointers. Nwigwe's second three-pointer of the game with 9:38 to play gave Robert Morris a 63-53 lead, and each time Quinnipiac mounted a run the Colonials got a big basket.
DeMario Anderson's jumper pulled the Bobcats within six, 66-60, but Jackson answered with a three-pointer. Quinnipiac reeled off eight unanswered points to close within one, 69-68, with 5:19 remaining, but Francisco came back with a three-pointer to give the Colonials a 72-68 edge. The trifecta started a 9-2 spurt to give RMU a 78-70 lead with 2:33 to go, and Langhurst hit all four of his opportunities at the charity stripe in the last 24 seconds to seal the victory.
Jackson finished with 21 points to pace the Colonials, hitting eight of his 18 shots from the floor, including a 3-for-4 performance from beyond the arc. Senior guard Tony Lee (Boston, Mass. / Charlestown) added 17 points, eight assists and six steals, while Langhurst finished with 15 points and Francisco 12. Quinnipiac was paced by Anderson, who took home game-high honors with 28 points.
Robert Morris continues its three-game road trip with its final non-conference game of the 2007-08 season Monday, Jan. 7, with a 7:00 p.m. tilt at Boston College. The Colonials close out their swing by returning to NEC action Thursday, Jan. 10, at Fairleigh Dickinson.
