Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball saw its nine-game winning streak come to an end Monday night at the Petersen Events Center with a 92-72 defeat to No. 6 Pittsburgh in non-conference action. RMU falls to 15-8 with the loss, while the Panthers improve to 20-2.
In the opening minutes the Colonials jumped out to a 7-3 advantage after jumpers from junior forwards Rob Robinson (Waldorf, Md. / Globe Institute of Technology) and Dallas Green (Indianapolis, Indiana / Northwest) and a three-pointer from junior guard Jimmy Langhurst (Willard, Ohio / Willard).
Pitt reeled off seven straight points to take a 10-7 advantage at the 16:16 mark of the first half, but another jumper from Green and a three-pointer from senior guard Bateko Francisco (Paris, France / Fort Scott J.C.) gave Robert Morris a 12-10 lead.
Jermaine Dixon answered Francisco's trifecta with one of his own to push the Panthers back in front, 13-12, but a pair of free throws from Robinson after being fouled by Tyrell Biggs helped get the Colonials back on top, 14-13.
RMU took a 17-15 lead thanks to a three-pointer from sophomore guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep), but consecutive jumpers from Sam Young helped put Pittsburgh in front for good, 19-17.
The Panthers stretched their lead to 24-17 with 9:36 left before halftime thanks to a jumper from Brad Wanamaker and a layup from Gary McGhee, but five straight points from Francisco helped Robert Morris trim its deficit to 24-22.
Biggs helped Pitt take a 26-22 edge on a pair of free throws at the 8:23 mark of the first half, which started the Panthers on a deciding 21-5 run. Ashton Gibbs hit a pair of three-pointers during the surge, while Jermaine Dixon hit another, and Pitt took advantage of its size down low, drawing fouls and converting six points at the charity stripe. The Panthers eventually entered the break with a 53-33 advantage thanks to 7-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc in the first half.
In the first four minutes after halftime Robert Morris closed its deficit to 60-47 thanks to a 14-7 spurt as Robinson scored five points and senior guard Jeremy Chappell (Cincinnati, Ohio / Northwest) contributed a pair of jumpers.
Pitt quickly pushed its lead to 65-47 thanks a layup from DeJuan Blair and a trio of free throws. The Panthers took their biggest lead of the contest, 72-49, with a layup from Blair, but a 16-4 surge helped RMU trim its deficit to 76-65 with 6:36 remaining.
The Colonials did the majority of their damage during the spurt from beyond the arc, as Chappell drilled a pair of three-pointers, while Wallace and Langhurst each hit one. Out of a 30-second timeout Pittsburgh took control again, using a 10-2 surge to put the game away.
Chappell paced Robert Morris with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting and added three rebounds, a career-high eight assists and a pair of steals. Robinson finished with 15 points, while Francisco contributed 13 points and five assists. Wallace came off the bench to supply 10 points, hitting three of his five shots from the floor.
Pitt was led by Young, who finished with 23 points and six rebounds. Blair contributed 18 points and eight rebounds, while Levance Fields posted a double-double with 12 points and 13 assists. Dixon contributed 15 points.
Robert Morris returns to Northeast Conference action in search of its 10th straight win in league play when it visits Brooklyn Heights, N.Y., for a 7:00 p.m. tilt with St. Francis (N.Y.) Thursday, Feb. 5.
