Piscataway, N.J. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team concluded play in the Garden State Challenge Saturday night with a 72-55 loss to Marist at the RAC on the campus of Rutgers University. The Colonials fall to 1-3 on the 2008-09 campaign with the defeat, while the Red Foxes improve to 1-2.
RMU jumped out to a 9-2 lead early in the contest as senior guard Jeremy Chappell (Cincinnati, Ohio / Northwest) scored five points, including a dunk on a fastbreak off a steal. Junior forward Rob Robinson's (Waldorf, Md. / Globe Institute of Technology) layup with 16:22 to play in the first half gave Robert Morris an 11-4 advantage, but Marist used a 9-2 spurt to knot the game, 13-13, at the 14:57 mark of the first half.
The Colonials grabbed the lead back on a pair of free throws from junior guard Mezie Nwigwe (Hyattsville, Md. / High Point), 15-13, and another Nwigwe free throw gave RMU a 16-13 advantage, but a three-pointer from Ryan Schneider tied the game for the second time, 16-16.
R.J. Hall gave Marist its first lead of the contest, 19-18, with 11:25 left before halftime by hitting the back end of a pair of free throws, but a 9-2 surge by RMU gave the Colonials a 27-21 lead. Sophomore guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) hit a pair of jumpers, while Nwigwe scored five points.
Marist would close the half on a 12-4 run to take a 33-31 advantage into intermission as Hall scored six points, while Ryan Schneider and Dejuan Goodwin each hit three-pointers.
Robert Morris showed life early in the second half, knotting the score, 37-37, with 15:38 to go on a layup from Nwigwe, but the Colonials would go the next seven and-a-half minutes without a field goal. The Red Foxes responded, stretching their lead to double digits, 51-38, after a pair of free throws Javon Parris.
David Devezin took control in the second half for Marist, scoring 13 of his game-high 18 points after the break. The Red Foxes held their largest lead of the game, 69-48, after a three-pointer from Schneider with 1:46 to go.
Chappell led the Colonials with 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting and also added three rebounds, three assists and five steals, while Nwigwe finished with 12 points off the bench. Wallace contributed eight points, three assists, three blocks and four steals, while Robinson and junior guard Jimmy Langhurst (Willard, Ohio / Willard) each had five rebounds. Devezin was one of four Red Foxes to score in double figures, as Schneider contributed 16 points, Hall 14 and Goodwin 11.
Robert Morris returns home to the Charles L. Sewall Center for its next game, hosting Youngstown State Tuesday, Nov. 25, for a 7:00 p.m. tip.
