Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team concluded play in the 2011 Philly Hoop Group Classic Sunday evening with an 81-71 setback to No. 16 Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center.
The Colonials, who finished with a record of 2-2 in the tournament, slipped to 4-2 overall on the 2011-12 campaign, while the Panthers improved to 5-1.
Pittsburgh used a 16-4 run midway through the first half to open up a 22-10 lead as Ashton Gibbs and Cameron Wright each scored six points to bolster the surge.
Talib Zanna helped the Panthers grow their advantage to 28-12 with 8:03 left before halftime with a jumper, and Pitt held is largest lead of the first half, 41-21, after a Zanna tip-in with just 1:30 remaining before intermission.
Pittsburgh's biggest advantage came with 11:39 to play when a layup from Wright gave the Panthers a 60-38 lead, but the Colonials outscored Pitt, 33-21, the rest of the way.
Struggling to find its three-point shot in the first half, RMU finished 6-for-16 from beyond the arc after the break, including a trio from redshirt sophomore guard Coron Williams (Midlothian, Va. / Christchurch School), who led the Colonials with 19 points.
Trailing, 67-48, with just under four minutes remaining, an 11-1 Robert Morris spurt trimmed its deficit to single digits, 68-59, with 2:07 to go.
Redshirt junior forward Russell Johnson (Chester, Pa. / Chester), redshirt junior guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, Pa. / Northeast Catholic) and Williams each connected from long range, while senior forward Lawrence Bridges (Detroit, Mich. / Columbus State Community College) added a layup.
Pittsburgh sealed the victory at the free-throw line, scoring its final 14 points at the chalk.
In addition to team-high 19 points from Williams, Johnson finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while Bridges and Jones each scored 10 points.
Gibbs led four Panthers in double figures scoring with 21 points. Wright finished with 13 points, Tray Woodall added 12 points and 10 assists and Zann contributed 10 points and 15 boards.
A five-game road swing now complete, Robert Morris returns home to the Charles L. Sewall Center to open Northeast Conference play Thursday, Dec. 1, with a 7:00 p.m. tip against Fairleigh Dickinson.
Five of RMU's next six games will come at home, with the lone road test a 7:00 p.m. tip against Duquesne at the A.J. Palumbo Center Tuesday, Dec. 6.
