Staten Island, N.Y. - Tyler Murray and Latif Rivers combined for 13 points in overtime Thursday night to help lift Wagner to an 83-78 victory over the Robert Morris University men's basketball team at the Spiro Sports Center.
RMU, playing its second straight overtime contest, dipped to 5-9 overall on the 2010-11 season, including 1-2 in Northeast Conference play, with the Seahawks improved to 7-7 overall and took over sole possession of first place in the league standings with a 3-0 mark.
Tied, 68-68, with 2:23 to play in the extra frame after a pair of free throws from redshirt sophomore forward Russell Johnson (Chester, Pa. / Chester), a three-pointer from Murray and a jumper by Rivers in consecutive possessions pushed Wagner in front for good, 73-68.
The Colonials fought back despite the deficit, as freshman guard Anthony Myers (Washington, D.C. / Charis Prep) converted a three-point play with 1:21 remaining in overtime to close RMU within two, 73-71.
Rivers would score on a layup and added a pair from the charity stripe with just 30 seconds left to again give Wagner a five-point advantage, 77-72, but Myers buried a three-pointer with 19 seconds to go to again make it a one possession contest, 77-75.
Rivers would be sent to the free-throw line again after a foul by Johnson, and he buried both of his attempts to give the Seahawks a 79-75 cushion with 11 seconds remaining, but sophomore guard Karon Abraham (Paterson, N.J. / Harp Academy) buried his fifth three-pointer of the game to make it a one-point game, 79-78, in favor of Wagner.
This time, Josh Thompson was sent to the line with 5.6 seconds left, and he hit a pair to give the Seahawks an 81-78 lead. RMU's last chance effort at tying the game and sending it to a second overtime fell short after a turnover by senior guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep).
The defeat spoiled a virtuoso performance from Abraham, who became the first Colonial to eclipse the 30-point plateau in almost four years with a career-high 32 points. He finished 9-for-20 shooting from the floor, including a 5-for-8 performance from long range, and was 9-of-12 at the free-throw line.
Johnson added 10 points and five rebounds, while sophomore forward Lijah Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa. / Monsignor Bonner) recorded his first career double-double thanks to 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
Murray scored 26 points to lead Wagner, while Rivers added 22 points. Each had four assists and combined to finish 14-for-16 at the free-throw line.
Robert Morris concludes a six-game road swing Saturday, Jan. 8, with a 1:00 p.m. tip against Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, Md.
