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Robert Morris University Athletics

Elijah Minnie
72
Winner Robert Morris RMU 7-9, 3-1 NEC
60
Central Connecticut CCSU 2-15, 0-4 NEC
Winner
Robert Morris RMU
7-9, 3-1 NEC
72
Final
60
Central Connecticut CCSU
2-15, 0-4 NEC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Robert Morris RMU 33 39 72
Central Connecticut CCSU 27 33 60

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

RMU Closes Out Road Trip With 72-60 Win Over CCSU

New Britain, Conn. – The Robert Morris University men's basketball team concluded a three-game road trip Saturday afternoon with a 72-60 win over Central Connecticut State at Detrick Gymnasium.

In notching back-to-back victories for the first time this season, the Colonials improved to 7-9 overall on the 2014-15 campaign, including 3-1 in the Northeast Conference.

RMU utilized its eighth different starting lineup over its last 10 games and jumped out to an 8-3 advantage in the first five minutes as senior forward Lucky Jones and freshman forward Elijah Minnie each scored four points.

The Blue Devils (2-15, 0-4 NEC) rallied, putting together an 8-0 surge to grab an 11-8 lead at the 12:02 mark of the first half as Brandon Peel and Matt Mobley each scored four points.

Junior forward Stephan Bennett would push Robert Morris back in front, 12-11, with a layup, and the Colonials eventually stretched their lead to 25-17 as Jones contributed seven points during a 17-6 spurt. RMU kept CCSU in check the rest of the half and entered the break owning a 33-27 lead.

In the second half, senior guard David Appolon opened the scoring with a layup, and Minnie followed with a three-pointer to give Robert Morris its first double-digit advantage, 38-27. Appolon gave the Colonials their biggest cushion, 40-27, after a fastbreak layup at the 18:07 mark of the second half.

Central Connecticut State didn't fold, twice making it a one-possession game. Faronte Drakeford helped the Blue Devils close to within 50-47 with 8:59 to play with a layup, but Minnie snuffed out the CCSU rally by scoring six straight points. Minnie's run included three-pointer as well as an old-fashioned three-point play thanks to a layup and free throw courtesy of a foul by Khalen Cumberlander of the Blue Devils.

Jones would follow with a three-pointer to push RMU's lead back to double digits, 59-49, at the 6:58 mark of the second half, and Central Connecticut State never threatened again.

Jones paced the Colonials with 18 points, hitting seven of his 14 shots from the field. He also added five rebounds and dished out four assists. Minnie produced a perfect shooting night in posting a career-high 13 points. He finished 5-for-5 from the field, including 2-for-2 from deep, and 1-for-1 at the free-throw line while registering three steals. Also scoring in double figures for RMU was junior guard Rodney Pryor, who contributed 11 points to go along with five rebounds.

Drakeford led four Blue Devils in double figures, scoring 18 points. Mobley chipped in 14 points, Cumberlander drilled four three-pointers in the second half to finish with 12 points and Peel registered a double-double thanks to 11 points and a game-high 18 rebounds.

Robert Morris returns home to the Charles L. Sewall Center for a two-game homestand, beginning with a 9:00 p.m. tip against St. Francis Brooklyn Friday, Jan. 16, in a game that will televised live on ESPNU.

Stat of the Night: 52.8 – Shooting percentage for Robert Morris against Central Connecticut State, which improves the Colonials to a perfect 20-0 against Northeast Conference opponents under fifth-year head coach Andrew Toole when shooting at least 50 percent from the floor.

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