Boxscore
Hamden, Conn. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team converted just one field goal in the final 4:19 of action, a three-pointer from redshirt junior guard Coron Williams (Midlothian, Va. / Christchurch School) with just 1.4 seconds to play, and Quinnipiac pulled out a 63-61 win over the Colonials Thursday at the TD Bank Sports Center.
RMU slips to 17-9 overall and 9-4 in the NEC with the setback, while the Bobcats improved to 11-13 overall and 7-5 in league play.
Sophomore forward Lucky Jones (Philadelphia, Pa. / St. Anthony) gave Robert Morris a 58-56 lead with 4:19 remaining after a layup, but after a couple of empty possessions by both teams, Evan Conti tied the game with layup at the 1:18 mark of the second half.
Conti was also fouled on the play by Williams, but the free-throw attempt was off the mark, with Ike Azotam pulling down the offensive rebound for Quinnipiac. Azotam was fouled and converted both of his attempts at the stripe to give the Bobcats a 60-58 edge.
Redshirt senior guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, Pa. / Northeast Catholic) would try to convert in the lane for the Colonials on their next possession but couldn't get the ball to fall through the cylinder, and Conti helped seal the victory with a jumper with 13 seconds to play that gave Quinnipiac a 62-58 edge.
Williams would hit a three-pointer with 1.4 seconds to go, and on the ensuing inbounds pass Conti was fouled with 0.9 seconds left. Conti converted his first attempt at the stripe but purposely missed the second.
Lucky Jones came down with the rebound, but his last chance heave at the basket was off the mark.
RMU jumped out to an 18-4 lead in the first six and-a-half minutes of the game as redshirt senior forward Russell Johnson (Chester, Pa. / Chester) propelled the Colonials with 10 points.
Despite the lead, Quinnipiac chipped away and took a 30-29 edge at the break as Ousmane Drame converted a layup with 41 seconds left before halftime to give the Bobcats the lead.
The two teams changed leads 11 times in the second half, with the Colonials using a 10-0 run to turn a 46-41 deficit into a 51-46 advantage with 7:49 to play.
The Bobcats responded with a 10-2 spurt to take a 56-53 advantage, but Johnson tied it, 56-56, with a three-pointer at the 4:36 mark of the second half. Velton Jones would give the Colonials their last lead, 58-56, before RMU went cold from the field.
Johnson paced Robert Morris with 16 points and added seven rebounds, two assists and three steals, while Lucky Jones contributed 12 points, seven boards, three assists and a pair of thefts.
Williams chipped in 12 points for the Colonials and also recorded a trio of steals as RMU turned 23 Quinnipiac turnovers into 15 steals and a 27-15 advantage in points off turnovers.
The Bobcats, however, dominated the glass, posting a 45-25 advantage, including 19-7 in offensive rebounding. Those totals helped QU post a 21-7 edge in second-chance points.
Conti paced Quinnipiac with a career-high 18 points, while Ousmane Drame and Ike Azotam each finished with 10 points. Drame grabbed 15 boards, while Azotam notched 10.
The Colonials close out their two-game swing through Connecticut Saturday, Feb. 16, with a 3:30 p.m. tip against Sacred Heart at the William H. Pitt Center in Fairfield, Conn.
