Athens, Ohio - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team shot a season-high 53.2 percent (25-for-47) and held on in the final minute of regulation to post a 70-67 victory over Ohio Monday night at the Convocation Center.
The Colonials improved to 11-4 overall on the 2011-12 campaign, while the Bobcats lost for just the second time in 14 contests, had their nine-game winning streak snapped and lost at home for the first time this season.
Redshirt sophomore guard Coron Williams (Midlothian, Va. / Christchurch School) had given RMU a 70-62 advantage with 1:07 to play thanks to a pair of free throws, but Ohio used a full-court press to force the Colonials into multiple turnovers and close within three, 70-67, with just 49 seconds left.
Reggie Keely converted a layup with 58 seconds remaining, and the following inbounds pass was stolen by TyQuane Goard, who was fouled by redshirt junior guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, Pa. / Northeast Catholic).
Goard hit one of his two attempts from the stripe to pull Ohio within 70-65.
Keely came up with a steal on the ensuing inbounds pass and fed Ricardo Johnson for a dunk to help the Bobcats make it a one-possession game, 70-67, and again Robert Morris turned it over on the inbounds pass, with Keely coming up with another steal.
In the final 29 seconds, Ohio had four chances to tie the game but came away unsuccessful each time.
D.J. Cooper missed a pair of three-pointers, including a last second opportunity at the end of regulation, while Walter Offutt missed a jumper off an offensive rebound and T.J. Hall misfired a three-pointer.
RMU held on by dominating the glass, posting a 43-29 edge in rebounding while winning for the 23rd straight time when shooting at least 50 percent from the field.
Jones finished with 17 points to lead the Colonials and also added six assists and a pair of steals, while Williams added 14 points and a career-high eight rebounds.
Redshirt junior forward Russell Johnson (Chester, Pa. / Chester) contributed 10 points, six boards, two assists, two blocks and three steals.
Keely scored 14 points off the bench to tie for team-high honors with Ohio, as Ivo Baltic also finished with 14 points.
Cooper added 13 points, seven assists and three steals for the Bobcats but struggled through a shooting night of just 3-for-17, including 2-of-12 from beyond the arc. Overall Ohio converted just three of its 26 attempts (11.5 percent) from long range.
Robert Morris had five players record at least six rebounds in the win, including eight from freshman forward Lucky Jones (Newark, N.J. / St. Anthony).
Keely paced Ohio with five caroms.
Baltic's layup 17 seconds into the game gave the Bobcats an early 2-0 lead, but nine straight points by Robert Morris bolstered the Colonials to a lead they wouldn't relinquish in the first half.
RMU's biggest lead came with 2:55 left in the first half, when senior forward Lawrence Bridges (Detroit, Mich. / Columbus State Community College) converted a layup to give the Colonials a 32-21 edge.
Robert Morris held its advantage until the 10:48 mark of the second half, when Nick Kellogg's three-pointer capped an 8-0 Ohio spurt to give the Bobcats a 54-52 advantage.
Velton Jones answered with a three-pointer on RMU's next possession, and the Colonials never trailed again.
Robert Morris returns to Northeast Conference action for its next contest, visiting Smithfield, R.I., Thursday, Jan. 5, for a 7:00 p.m. tip against Bryant.
