Tucson, Ariz. - Derrick Williams had 17 points and nine rebounds and Jesse Perry added 16 points as Arizona posted an 82-56 victory over the Robert Morris University men's basketball team Wednesday night at the McCale Center.
RMU fell to 4-7 overall on the 2010-11 campaign, while the Wildcats improved to 11-2 and capped off their most successful non-conference season since 1999-2000.
Arizona never trailed in the contest, jumping out to a 9-2 lead in the opening minutes as Williams scored four points, Kyle Fogg hit a three-pointer and Lamont Jones scored on a layup.
Jordin Mayes gave the Wildcats a 20-11 lead at the 11:07 mark of the first half after a layup, but the Colonials scored seven consecutive points over the next three minutes to trim their deficit to two, 20-18. Sophomore forward Karon Abraham (Paterson, N.J. / Harp Academy) started the spurt with a three-pointer, while junior forward Lawrence Bridges (Detroit, Mich. / Columbus State Community College) scored four straight points.
Perry and Williams helped push Arizona's lead to 25-18 as each recorded a dunk, with Perry converting a three-point play after a foul by Bridges.
Robert Morris was able to close within 25-22 after a layup from Bridges and a jumper by freshman guard Anthony Myers (Washington, D.C. / Charis Prep), but Arizona closed the first half on a 13-6 surge to take a 38-28 advantage into halftime.
The Wildcats kept the run intact in the opening minutes of the second half, outscoring RMU, 12-2, in the first four minutes after intermission to take a 50-30 lead. Perry scored six points, while Williams finished 4-for-4 at the free-throw line during the spurt.
Arizona's biggest lead came with 3:18 to play, 80-51, when Jamelle Horne converted a three-point play.
For the first time this season Robert Morris failed to have a player reach double figures in scoring as redshirt sophomore guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, Pa. / Northeast Catholic) led the Colonials with nine points. He finished 3-of-5 shooting from the field and also added three rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Abraham, Myers and sophomore forwards Russell Johnson (Chester, Pa. / Chester) and Lijah Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa. / Monsignor Bonner) each scored eight points, with Johnson pacing the Colonials in rebounds with eight.
Robert Morris is next in action Thursday, Dec. 30, when it plays the third contest of a six-game road trip with a 7:00 p.m. tip against Morgan State in Baltimore, Md.
