Cookeville, Tenn. – Senior guard
Rodney Pryor hit a pop shot in the lane with 47 seconds to play to give the
Robert Morris University men's basketball team the lead for good in a 67-64 win over Mississippi Valley State in RMU's final game of the Air Force Classic Saturday night at the Eblen Center.
The Colonials notched their first win of the 2015-16 campaign and improved to 1-6, while the Delta Devils fell to 0-6.
Isaac Williams scored all 19 of his points in the second half, including a three-pointer with 1:17 to play that pushed Mississippi Valley State in front, 62-61. Pryor responded on RMU's next possession, driving into the lane and putting up a shot fake before converting in the lane to give the Colonials a 63-62 edge.
Williams, who drilled four straight three-pointers to push the Delta Devils in front, took a three-pointer with 19 seconds to go, but the shot was short. Freshman guard
Matty McConnell came down with the rebound and was immediately fouled. McConnell hit a pair at the stripe with 15.1 seconds left to give RMU a 65-62 edge.
Williams again tried to connect from deep for the tie, but his three-pointer was off the mark, and junior forward
Billy Giles sealed the victory with a pair at the charity stripe with seven seconds to play.
"We knew they were going to be aggressive on defense," head coach
Andrew Toole. "It's a hard game to have set plays for because they switch up their defenses sometimes from possession to possession. I'm proud of the resolve our guys showed. Rodney obviously hit a big shot, and he was terrific on the backboard, especially the weak side. Those are the type of effort plays you have to make in order to win."
RMU shot 60 percent (12-for-20) in the second half but suffered 25 turnovers on the contest, which Mississippi Valley State turned into 27 points.
Robert Morris held a 31-30 halftime lead and stretched its advantage to 42-34 by opening the second half on a 13-4 spurt. Five different Colonials scored, including four points from Pryor.
RMU matched its largest lead at eight points, 51-43, at the 11:43 mark of the second half after sophomore forward
Andre Frederick went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line and again with 8:22 to play, 56-48, after freshman guard
Isaiah Still connected from beyond the arc.
Mississippi Valley State responded by hanging a 14-5 run on the Colonials that gave the Delta Devils a 62-61 edge with 1:17 to go. Damian Young started the spurt with a dunk, and Williams followed by knocking down four three-pointers.
Pryor led Robert Morris with 17 points and 12 rebounds and also added three assists, two blocks and a steal. He was one of three Colonials to reach double figures in scoring, as Giles added 12 points and seven boards while Still chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds.
Joining Williams in double figures for the Delta Devils was Marcus Romain, who finished with 14 points, and Young, who contributed 11 points and four rebounds.
Play in the Air Force Classic now complete, RMU concludes a five-game road trip Wednesday, Dec. 2, with a 7:00 p.m. tip at Youngstown State.
Stat Of The Night4,583 – Miles traveled by Robert Morris during play in the Air Force Classic
Tweet Of The Night
