Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team opened a three-game homestand Thursday night at the Charles L. Sewall Center by snapping a two-game slide with a 91-38 victory over Bryant.
RMU improved to 10-12 overall and 6-5 in the Northeast Conference with the win, while the Bulldogs slipped to 7-16 overall and 5-6 in league play.
The Colonials established season highs in points (91), field goals (32), three-point field goals (14), three-point field goal percentage (.667) and assists (26) in cruising to the win, while the 53-point margin of victory is RMU's largest in school history in an NEC contest.
Cecil Gresham gave Bryant an early 7-6 advantage with a three-pointer at the 16:08 mark of the first half, but a 28-7 run over the next 11 minutes helped Robert Morris take control.
Sophomore forward Lijah Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa. / Monsignor Bonner) started the deciding surge with a layup and scored seven points during the spurt, while redshirt sophomore guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, Pa. / Northeast Catholic) scored eight and redshirt sophomore forward Russell Johnson (Chester, Pa. / Chester) added six points.
The Colonials eventually entered halftime with a 43-19 advantage as Thompson scored 12 of his career-high 18 points in the first half while Jones added 11 points and three assists.
Bryant struggled shooting from the field, converting just 22.7 percent (10-for-44) of its shots after going just 4-for-25 (16 percent) from the floor in the second half.
The Bulldogs hit just four of their 23 attempts (17.4 percent) from beyond the arc and were just 14-for-29 (48.3 percent) from the free-throw line.
RMU quickly pushed its lead over 30 in the opening minutes of the second half, 53-20, thanks to back-to-back dunks by Thompson and junior forward Lawrence Bridges (Detroit, Mich. / Columbus State Community College) and a pair of three-pointers from Johnson as Robert Morris cruised after intermission.
Thompson led five Colonials in double figures scoring, converting seven of his 12 shots from the floor while grabbing six rebounds and posting a pair of steals. Jones added 16 points, three rebounds and four assists, while the Robert Morris bench scored a season-high 47 points.
Sophomore guard Karon Abraham (Paterson, N.J. / Harp Academy) scored 15 points as a reserve, while Johnson added 14 points and six rebounds and redshirt freshman guard Coron Williams (Midlothian, Va. / Christchurch School) scored 12 points.
Gresham led Bryant with 13 points, finishing 4-for-10 shooting from the field and going 3-for-4 at the free-throw line.
Robert Morris continues its homestand Saturday, Feb. 5, when it welcomes Central Connecticut State to the Sewall Center for a 7:00 p.m. tip.
