Boxscore
Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball opened play in the 2012 NIT Season Tip-Off Monday night with an 89-60 loss to Lehigh at the Petersen Events Center on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.
The Colonials slipped to 0-2 with the loss, while the Mountain Hawks improved to 1-1.
In the first four minutes of action RMU and Lehigh traded baskets, with the Colonials taking an 8-7 lead at the 16:10 mark after a layup from sophomore Mike McFadden (Newark, N.J. / Technology).
McFadden scored six early points for the Colonials, while junior forward Vaughn Morgan (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Southwestern Christian College) added a dunk on a feed from redshirt senior guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, Pa. / Northeast Catholic).
Lehigh called a 30-second timeout after the third layup from McFadden, then hung a 17-3 run on the Colonials to open up a 24-11 lead with 8:42 to play before the break. C.J. McCollum scored four points for the Mountain Hawks, while Holden Greiner, Stefan Cvrkalj and Gabe Knutson each connected from beyond the arc.
Morgan snapped a five-minute drought without a field goal for Robert Morris thanks to a three-point play to close the Colonials to within 24-14, but a 9-2 Lehigh surge gave the Mountain Hawks a 33-16 edge with 3:55 left before halftime.
Lehigh eventually entered intermission with a 38-23 advantage as Cvrkalj came off the bench to go a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc for nine points.
The Mountain Hawks continued their balanced attack offensively in the second half, never letting Robert Morris get closer than 14 points. Knutson gave Lehigh a 54-34 lead with a pair of free throws with 12:40 to go, and Cvrkalj's layup at the 2:48 mark of the second half gave Lehigh its biggest lead of the game, 85-53.
McCollum led five players in double figures scoring for the Mountain Hawks with 19 points while adding four rebounds and four assists. Mackey McKnight added 15 points and seven assists, while Greiner and Knutson each scored 12. Schaefer added 11 points off the bench.
The Colonials were led by McFadden, who recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, including six offensive caroms.
McFadden and Morgan combined to convert 10 of their 17 shots (.588) from the field, with Morgan adding 12 points, five rebounds and five blocks. Jones added 12 points and seven assists.
Robert Morris continues play in the 2012 NIT Season Tip-Off Tuesday, Nov. 13, with a 6:00 p.m. tip against Fordham at the Petersen Events Center.
