West Long Branch, N.J. - Redshirt sophomore forward Russell Johnson's (Chester, Pa. / Chester) jumper from the top of the key with 3.3 seconds to play helped lift the Robert Morris University men's basketball team to a 62-60 victory over Monmouth Saturday night at the MAC.

A three-point attempt by James Hett of the Hawks from just inside half court as time expired hit the rim and bounced away, sealing the victory for the Colonials. RMU improved to 14-13 overall and 10-6 in the Northeast Conference with the win, while Monmouth slipped to 9-19 overall and 6-10 in league play.

Robert Morris owned a 60-57 lead with 36 seconds to go, but Jesse Steele forced a turnover by Velton Jones (Philadelphia, Pa. / Northeast Catholic) for a steal and drove the length of the court for a layup. In the process Jones fouled Steele, who went to the line to convert the three-point play and tie the game, 60-60, with 32 seconds remaining.

RMU called timeout with 17 seconds left on the clock, and out of the break Johnson got a feed from senior guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) and buried a jumper from the top of the key to help propel the Colonials.

In a contest that featured seven ties and eight lead changes, Robert Morris owned an 11-point advantage at the 7:02 mark of the first half after a layup from sophomore forward Lijah Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa. / Monsignor Bonner). 

The Hawks responded with a 16-4 run to take their first lead of the game, 32-31, with 2:03 left before the break. Steele hit a pair of three-pointers to bolster the surge, while James Hett scored five points.

RMU came back to take a 34-32 lead at the break thanks to a free throw from Jones and a layup from Johnson with three seconds left before intermission.  

The lead swelled to six on a pair of occasions in the opening minutes of the second half due in large part to a pair of three-pointers from redshirt freshman guard Coron Williams (Midlothian, Va. / Christchurch School), including a 41-35 edge with 18:04 to go. The rest of the game, however, neither team owned an advantage of more than three points.

Williams scored 12 of his game-high 15 points in the second half, finishing 5-for-5 from beyond the arc in the absence of sophomore guard Karon Abraham (Paterson, N.J. / Harp Academy), who left the game in the first five minutes due to a lower leg injury. The total established a career high for Williams. 

Johnson added 13 points and nine rebounds, Jones chipped in with 12 points and eight caroms and Thompson finished with 11 points and three boards. 

Mike Myers Keitt led Monmouth with 14 points, while Steele finished with 12 points and five assists.

Robert Morris returns to the Charles L. Sewall Center for its final two games of the 2010-11 regular season, beginning Thursday, Feb. 24, with a 7:00 p.m. tip against Mount St. Mary's.