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Robert Morris University Athletics

Colonials Close Out Homestand Tuesday vs. Hampton

GAME #12
Hampton (4-7) vs. Robert Morris (8-3)
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 • 7:00 p.m. 
Charles L. Sewall Center (3,056) • Moon Township, Pa.

Radio: WPIT-AM (730) 
Radio Talent: Chris Shovlin (play-by-play) & Jim Elias (color)
Audio / Video / Live Stats available at www.rmucolonials.com

Top Story - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team concludes a three-game homestand Tuesday night when it welcomes Hampton to the Charles L. Sewall Center for a 7:00 p.m. tip. The Colonials are coming off a 72-64 come-from-behind victory over Louisiana-Lafayette (12/17/11), turning an eight-point deficit with 12 and-a-half minutes to play into an eight-point victory. Redshirt junior guard Velton Jones led four Colonials in double figures, scoring 15 of his team-high 16 points in the second half. Sophomore forward Mike McFadden added 13 points, freshman forward Lucky Jones contributed 12 points and redshirt sophomore guard Coron Williams finished with 10 points. RMU takes to the road for five straight games after hosting Hampton Tuesday night, beginning with a 7:00 p.m. tip @ Youngstown State Thursday, Dec. 22. The Colonials will also visit Memphis (12/29/11) and Ohio (1/2/12) to close out their 2011-12 non-conference schedule during their five-game road swing.

Quick Stat of the Night - Despite Robert Morris having posted a record of 4-1 (.800) in home games at the Charles L. Sewall Center so far this season, one Colonial who has really struggled to find his offensive groove is redshirt junior forward Russell Johnson. Each of Johnson's five double figure scoring games so far this season have come away from home, as he is averaging 12.4 points and 7.0 rebounds on the road while shooting 53.5 percent (23-for-43) from the field. At home? Johnson has produced averages of 6.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest while converting just 27.3 percent (9-for-33) of his attempts from the floor. Johnson's eight points in a 72-64 win over Louisiana-Lafayette (12/17/11) are a season high at the Sewall Center.

Tuesday's Opponent and The All-Time Series - Robert Morris has never squared off against Hampton on the hardwood in its 36-year Division I history, as Tuesday's game marks the inaugural meeting between the two programs. The Pirates are one of four teams that RMU will face for the first time in school history in 2011-12, joining Philly Hoop Group Classic participants Penn (11/19/11) and La Salle (11/25/11) and Louisiana-Lafayette (12/17/11). RMU is 2-1 (.667) so far this season against opponents its facing off with for the first time, dropping a 66-60 decision to the Quakers before posting a 51-44 win over the Explorers (11/25/11) in games that were played at the Palestra in Philadelphia, Pa. RMU's tilts with Louisiana-Lafeyette and Hampton are the beginning of a home-and-home series that will be concluded in 2012-13.

Surf Board - Robert Morris has been absolutely stellar on the glass in recent weeks, as the Colonials enter Tuesday's game against Hampton leading the Northeast Conference in rebounding defense, yielding an average of 29.9 rebounds per contest. RMU has been extremely efficient in the last four games, posting a rebounding margin of +10.0 per game. The Colonials are coming off a 72-64 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette (12/17/11) in which they posted a margin of +18 on the glass, RMU's largest margin against a non-conference opponent since outrebounding Navy (11/14/07), 50-28 (+22), in a 93-77 victory as part of the 2007 Philly Hoop Group Classic in Annapolis, Md.

Board Games - A big key to the success that Robert Morris has had over the last four seasons has been due in large part to the program's ability to crash the boards. Since the beginning of the 2007-08 campaign, Robert Morris owns a record of 75-12 (.862) when the Colonials are even or better in rebounding in a game, including a 71-10 (.877) mark when outrebounding their opponent. In Andrew Toole's two seasons as head coach, RMU has posted a record of 19-6 (.760) when outrebounding its opponent, including a mark of 5-2 (.714) in 2011-12.

Four Score and ... In a 72-64 win over Louisiana-Lafeyette (12/17/11), Robert Morris had four players reach double figures in scoring as redshirt junior guard Velton Jones paced the Colonials with 16 points. Joining Jones was sophomore forward Mike McFadden (13), freshman forward Lucky Jones (12) and redshirt sophomore guard Coron Williams (10). In seven of RMU's 11 games so far this season, four Colonials have scored in double figures, with Robert Morris owning a record of 5-2 (.714) in those contests. In the two seasons Andrew Toole has been the head coach at Robert Morris, the Colonials are 11-5 (.688) when at least four players score in double figures in a game.

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