Fairfield, Conn. - Senior forward A.J. Jackson (Monessen, Pa. / Monessen) and junior guard Jeremy Chappell (Cincinnati, Ohio / Northwest) each recorded double-doubles Thursday night to lead the Robert Morris University men's basketball team to an 82-69 win over Sacred Heart at the William H. Pitt Center.
The 12th straight win helped the Colonials claim their first Northeast Conference regular season championship since 1992 and secures the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament March 6-12, 2008. RMU, which is also assured of postseason play, improved to 24-6 overall and 15-2 in the NEC, while the Pioneers fell to 16-12 overall and 13-4 in league play.
The first six minutes was a back-and-forth affair, with Chauncey Hardy giving Sacred Heart an 11-10 lead after a three-pointer with 13:58 left before halftime. Jackson came back with a three-pointer of his own to give Robert Morris a 13-11 advantage, and the Colonials never trailed the rest of the game.
Junior guard Bateko Francisco (Paris, France / Fort Scott J.C.) hit a three-pointer to extend the RMU lead to 21-15, and the advantage reached nine on a pair of occasions after buckets from Jackson each time.
A pair of three-pointers from Corey Hassan helped the Pioneers close within 39-34 before Jackson gave the Colonials a seven-point halftime lead, 42-35, by hitting one of two free throws with 44 seconds left before the break.
Out of halftime RMU stretched its lead to double digits, 45-35, after a three-pointer from Chappell, and a trifecta from Jackson helped the Colonials open up a 52-40 advantage with 16:55 remaining. Jackson's three was part of a 12-5 surge that gave Robert Morris its largest lead of the contest, 59-42, with 15:06 to play. Senior guard Tony Lee (Boston, Mass. / Charlestown) scored four points during the run, while sophomore guard Mezie Nwigwe (Hyattsville, Md. / High Point) added a jumper.
Jackson's dunk at the 12:52 mark of the second half gave the Colonials a 63-46 lead, but a 10-2 run by Sacred Heart cut the RMU lead to 65-56. Ryan Litke scored six points, while Gene Pettway added four points.
Freshman guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) helped slow down the Pioneer surge with a runner in the lane to get the Robert Morris lead back to double digits, 67-56, and Jackson came through again for the Colonials, hitting a layup with 5:55 to go to keep the advantage in double digits, 69-59.
Sacred Heart made one last charge, cutting its deficit to 71-66 with 2:53 remaining thanks a layup from Hassan and a three-pointer by Hardy. However, Jackson's trifecta from the top of the key gave the Colonials a 74-66 lead with 2:21 to play. RMU sealed the win at the free-throw line, converting all six of its opportunities in the final 2:10.
Jackson recorded his 25th career double-double thanks to 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Chappell added 19 points and 10 rebounds. The Colonials held a commanding 43-28 edge on the glass as RMU outscored the Pioneers, 18-4, in second chance points.
Lee added 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals for Robert Morris. Sacred Heart was led by Hardy, who scored 14 points, while Hassan added 13 off the bench.
RMU closes out the 2007-08 regular season Saturday, March 1, with a 2:00 p.m. tilt against Long Island in Brooklyn, N.Y.
