Towson, Md. – Senior forward
Billy Giles converted in the lane with 1:34 to play off a dish from senior guard
Kavon Stewart to give the
Robert Morris University men's basketball team the lead for good as the Colonials notched their second win in as many days Saturday, earning a 67-66 victory over Towson at SECU Arena in the Barclays Classic.
Giles went to the free-throw line with 3.0 seconds to play and RMU (2-5) owning a one-point lead. He missed both of his chances, but the Tigers couldn't get up the court and get a shot off before time expired, allowing Robert Morris to clinch the win.
Stewart gave the Colonials a 65-61 advantage by banking in a three-pointer with 56 seconds to go, and on Towson's next possession, Mike Morsell was sent to the free-throw line courtesy of a foul from redshirt senior forward
Aaron Tate. Morsell hit both to close the Tigers to within 65-63.
Robert Morris whittled down the shot clock on its next possession, and despite a three-pointer from sophomore guard
Matty McConnell being strong, Tate came down with the offensive rebound. He fed Stewart, who was fouled by Deshaun Morman with 12 seconds remaining.
Stewart sank both free throws to give the Colonials a 67-63 cushion.
Towson got down the court and Morsell came through for the Tigers, burying a three-pointer from the left wing with just a shade over six seconds left. Towson immediately called timeout, and out of the break Giles was fouled with 3.0 seconds to play. Giles missed both of his attempts at the chalk, but the desperation shot the Tigers needed never got off in time.
"That's a happy locker room," head coach
Andrew Toole said. "The guys really responded, stuck with it and kept making plays. I told the guys afterward that's how we're going to have to win games. They might not always be the prettiest, but we battle. We grind and we battle."
Towson (3-3) owned its largest lead with 10:19 to play, 51-40, courtesy of a three-point play from Morman. RMU used a 9-0 run to make it a one-possession contest as sophomore guard
Isaiah Still hit a three-pointer, Stewart converted four consecutive free throws and Giles provided a dunk on a feed from Stewart.
"Kavon was getting downhill and making smart basketball plays," Toole said. "He made the right decisions, whether it was feeding Aaron or Billy. Billy had a couple of strong finishes. To be able to go on the road, be down 10 and come back, it's a positive sign. It shows our guys that if you work hard, positive results happen. We have to stay humble, though."
Towson weathered RMU's surge and pushed its advantage to 59-53 and also owned a 61-56 lead with 3:06 to play. The Colonials, however, grabbed the win by ending the game on an 11-5 spurt.
Still led Robert Morris with 16 points and also finished with five rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. Also reaching double figures for the Colonials was Stewart and Giles, who finished with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Stewart added six assists and five steals in the win.
Towson was led by John Davis, who scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench. Morsell contributed 15 points and Morman 14.
RMU returns home to the Charles L. Sewall Center for its next game, welcoming Youngstown State Wednesday, Nov. 30, for a 7:00 p.m. tip.
