Loretto, Pa. - Co-captains Jimmy Langhurst (Willard, Ohio / Willard) and Jeremy Chappell (Cincinnati, Ohio / Northwest) combined for 28 of RMU's 45 points in the second half to help propel the Robert Morris University men's basketball team to a 74-62 win over in-state rival Saint Francis (Pa.) in Northeast Conference action Thursday night at DeGol Arena.
RMU improves to 20-10 overall on the 2008-09 campaign with the victory, including 14-3 in the NEC, while the Red Flash fall to 5-23 overall and 2-15 in league play. Thanks to the win, the Colonials clinch their second straight NEC regular-season title and sixth overall.
Robert Morris never trailed in the contest, using 10-0 runs to start each half to bolster the club to victory.
Junior forward Rob Robinson (Waldorf, Md. / Globe Institute of Technology) scored the first six points of the game to give RMU an early advantage, but the Red Flash answered with a 19-9 spurt to tie the score, 19-19, with 7:50 left before halftime.
Saint Francis (Pa.) did most of its damage during the run from beyond the three-point line, as Steve Profeta, Cale Nelson and Marquis Ford each hit triples.
Chappell scored his first basket of the game with 6:05 remaining before intermission to give the Colonials a 21-19 lead, and the advantage eventually swelled to 29-23 after a three-pointer from Langhurst.
However, a three-pointer as the half expired by Ford helped the Red Flash trim their deficit to one at the break, 29-28.
Chappell scored five points during RMU's 10-0 run to start the second half and push the Colonials to a 39-28 lead, but five straight points from Nelson helped SFU climb back to within six, 39-33. Robert Morris was able to take control with a 16-4 run that opened up its biggest lead of the night, 55-37, with 9:57 to play.
Senior guard Bateko Francisco (Paris, France / Fort Scott J.C.) started the surge with a three-pointer, while Langhurst scored nine points, including a pair of three-pointers and an old-fashion three-point play.
The lead remained in double digits for RMU until the 2:57 mark of the second half, when Grant Surprenant drilled a three-pointer to cap a 9-4 run by the Red Flash.
Langhurst pushed the lead back to double digits for the Colonials with 1:57 remaining by hitting a pair of free throws, and a layup by junior forward Dallas Green (Indianapolis, Indiana / Northwest) off a steal by sophomore guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) helped seal the victory.
Langhurst finished 6-for-10 shooting on the night, including a 4-for-7 performance from long range, to tie a season-high with 19 points. He also added three rebounds and three assists.
Chappell finished with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Green tied career highs in points (13) and blocks (4) while tying Chappell for team-high honors in rebounds with six.
Devin Sweetney recorded his NEC-leading 14th career double-double by leading Saint Francis (Pa.) with 22 points and 11 caroms, while Nelson finished with 10 points and 10 assists. Profeta added 10 points off the bench for the Red Flash.
Robert Morris closes out its 2008-09 regular season Saturday, Feb. 28, when it welcomes Mount St. Mary's to the Charles L. Sewall Center for a 4:00 p.m. tilt that will be broadcast live on FSN Pittsburgh.
