Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team got back in the win column Thursday night and earned its 10th straight victory in Northeast Conference play with a 61-54 victory over St. Francis (N.Y.) at the Pope P.E. Center.
The win improves the Colonials to 16-8 overall and 10-1 in league play, while the Terriers fell to 7-15 overall and 5-7 in the NEC.
The victory marked RMU's 14th straight in NEC road games dating back to the start of the 2007-08 campaign, which establishes a new league record, while the program's 10-1 start in the conference is a program best.
Robert Morris quickly jumped out to a 9-2 edge thanks to five points from senior guard Bateko Francisco (Paris, France / Fort Scott J.C.) and four from junior forward Rob Robinson (Waldorf, Md. / Globe Institute of Technology).
RMU never trailed in the opening 10 minutes of play, and a jumper from junior guard Jimmy Langhurst (Willard, Ohio / Willard) helped the Colonials open an 18-12 advantage at the 9:50 mark of the first half.
Eight straight points from St. Francis (N.Y.) helped give the Terriers their first lead of the contest, 20-18, as Jamaal Womack hit a pair of three-pointers while Ricky Cadell supplied a jumper.
Robert Morris came back to tie the game, 20-20, with a jumper in the paint from sophomore guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep), but a 7-2 surge helped push St. Francis (N.Y.) in front, 27-22, with just 59 seconds remaining before intermission.
Despite the deficit, the Colonials took a 28-27 lead into halftime as Francisco converted a three-point play and Langhurst hit a three-pointer with just four ticks left on the first-half clock. Langhurst hit another three-pointer with 15:48 to play to give Robert Morris its biggest lead of the game, 40-32, which capped a 12-5 spurt.
RMU nursed a 44-39 edge with 11:40 to go, but St. Francis (N.Y.) scored six straight points to take its first lead of the second half, 45-44. John Gooden and Womack each converted layups, while Nigel Byam pushed the Terriers in front thanks to a pair at the free-throw line after an intentional foul by junior guard Mezie Nwigwe (Hyattsville, Md. / High Point).
Junior forward Dallas Green (Indianapolis, Indiana / Northwest) pushed the Colonials back in front, 46-45, with a jumper, but Womack answered with a jumper of his own to give St. Francis (N.Y.) a 47-46 edge. However, the Terriers would hit just one field goal in the final seven and-a-half minutes, and Robert Morris was able to seize control.
Senior guard Jeremy Chappell (Cincinnati, Ohio / Northwest) increased the Colonial lead to 51-48 edge with 6:18 to play, and his three-pointer with 3:54 to go gave RMU a 56-52 lead. Robinson's dunk with 1:15 remaining gave Robert Morris a 58-54 advantage, and the Colonials sealed the win at the free throw line, including a pair from Robinson in the final 30 seconds.
Chappell scored 16 points to pace Robert Morris, 13 of which came after halftime, while Robinson contributed 11 points. Francisco and Langhurst each finished with nine points, with Langhurst establishing a career high with seven rebounds. Green chipped in with four points and tied a career high with 10 caroms.
St. Francis (N.Y.) was led by Cadell, who scored a game-high 20 points, while Womack finished with 10. Byam finished with six points and eight rebounds, while Gooden finished with eight points and six rebounds off the bench.
Robert Morris concludes its three-game road trip Saturday, Feb. 7, with a 4:00 p.m. tilt at Central Connecticut State.
