Loretto, Pa. - Redshirt sophomore forward Russell Johnson (Chester, Pa. / Chester) buried a three-pointer with 1:18 to play to help give the Robert Morris University men's basketball team a nine-point advantage en route to a 78-73 victory over Saint Francis (Pa.) Saturday night at DeGol Arena in conclusion of "Rivalry Week" in the Northeast Conference.

RMU, which swept the pair of games from its in-state rival, improved to 12-13 overall on the 2010-11 campaign, including 8-6 in the NEC, while the Red Flash dipped to 7-18 overall and 5-9 in league action.

The Colonials have now won seven straight over Saint Francis (Pa.) and 12 of the last 13 meetings between the two programs, and their seven-game winning streak at DeGol Arena is the longest in school history on a conference opponent's home court.

The Red Flash held an early 6-4 lead in the contest after a pair of free throws from Will Felder, but a 12-0 run that included four three-pointers from four different Colonials allowed Robert Morris to take its first double-digit advantage of the game, 16-6. 

Redshirt sophomore guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, Pa. / Northeast Catholic), Johnson, senior guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) and redshirt freshman Coron Williams (Midlothian, Va. / Christchurch School) all connected from long range for RMU.

Saint Francis (Pa.) responded with 12 consecutive points to grab the lead back, 18-16, as Tony Peters and Anthony Ervin each scored four points for the Red Flash.

Tied for the eighth time before intermission, 25-25, with 3:25 left in the opening stanza after sophomore forward Lijah Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa. / Monsignor Bonner) went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line, RMU used a 10-7 spurt to close out the half and take a 35-32 edge into the break.

Williams began the surge with a three-pointer, while freshman forward Yann Charles (Longueuil, Quebec / Champlain St. Albert) knocked down a jumper and Jones buried a shot from long range.

Jon Taylor and Chris Johnson opened the second half with consecutive layups to push Saint Francis (Pa.) back in front, 36-35, but Robert Morris took control with a 15-7 run to open up a 50-43 lead with 13:26 to play. Junior forward Lawrence Bridges (Detroit, Mich. / Columbus State Community College) scored four points to lead the charge, while Jones and Johnson each hit three-pointers.

Thompson would push the advantage back to double-digits, 62-51, with a jumper at the 7:56 mark of the second half, and RMU had its largest lead with just 5:37 to go after Bridges converted a three-point play thanks to a layup and foul by Felder, 67-54.

Six straight points pulled the Red Flash back to within seven, 67-60, but a pair of free throws from Wallace, a driving layup from Jones and Johnson's three-pointer helped keep Saint Francis (Pa.) at bay.

Jones scored 15 points to lead a balanced offense for the Colonials, as each of the nine players who saw action converted at least a pair of field goals. Jones added six assists and four steals to go along with a 5-for-7 night shooting, including a 3-for-4 performance from beyond the arc.

Johnson added 13 points and four rebounds off the bench for RMU, while Thompson finished with 10 points and five boards. Wallace and Bridges each finished with nine points.

Saint Francis (Pa.) was led by Umar Shannon, who scored a game-high 25 points, including eight in the final 34 seconds. Chris Johnson added 13 points, Ervin 12 and Taylor 10 for the Red Flash.

Robert Morris continues a three-game road trip Thursday, Feb. 17, with a 7:00 p.m. tip against Fairleigh Dickinson at Stratis Arena in Teaneck, N.J.