Emmitsburg, Md. - A 23-6 run to start the second half helped turn a five-point deficit into a 12-point lead and the Robert Morris University men's basketball team held on for a 77-70 victory over Mount St. Mary's Monday night at Knott Arena.

The victory, RMU's 10th straight in league road games, improves the Colonials to 8-7 overall and 3-1 in league play, while the Mount falls to 5-9 overall and 0-3 in conference action.

Trailing at the break, 33-28, Robert Morris used a 7-2 spurt out of intermission to knot the game, 35-35, with 17:35 to go as junior forward Rob Robinson (Waldorf, Md. / Globe Institute of Technology) hit a pair from the free-throw line, senior guard Bateko Francisco (Paris, France / Fort Scott J.C.) hit a jumper and junior guard Jimmy Langhurst (Willard, Ohio / Willard) drained a three-pointer.

Sam Atupem hit a runner in the paint to give Mount a 37-35 edge, but the Colonials put together a 16-2 surge to take the lead for good, 51-39.

Four different Colonials scored during the run, as Robinson, junior guard Mezie Nwigwe (Hyattsville, Md. / High Point) and senior guard Jeremy Chappell (Cincinnati, Ohio / Northwest) each supplied four points. 

A pair of free throws from junior forward Dallas Green (Indianapolis, Indiana / Northwest) with 7:58 remaining gave the Colonials a 57-46 edge, but an 11-4 surge by Mount St. Mary's helped trim RMU's lead to 61-57 with 4:26 to play. Jean Cajou opened the run with a three-pointer and scored seven points, while Sam Atupem and Shawn Atupem each scored two points. 

Each of RMU's final 11 points in the game came at the free-throw line, but Chappell's three-point play with 1:55 to go helped seal the victory, as his layup and subsequent foul by Shawn Atupem gave Robert Morris a 67-59 edge.      

Robinson established career highs across the board for the Colonials, tying for game-high honors with 17 points while grabbing nine rebounds and posting three blocks. Chappell added 17 points and eight rebounds for RMU, while Green tied a career-high with 11 points and added six boards.

Cajou finished with 17 points for the Mount, while Kelly Beidler and Jeremy Goode each finished with 11 points. As a club the Colonials shot 39.7 percent (25-for-63) from the field and were 24-for-32 (75 percent) at the free-throw line. Robert Morris also held a 46-30 edge on the glass, grabbing 19 offensive boards.

RMU continues its three-game road trip Thursday, Jan. 8, with a 7:00 p.m. tip against Quinnipiac in Hamden, Conn.