Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University men's basketball team shot a season-high 52 percent (26-for-50) from the field and senior guard
Kavon Stewart tied a season-high with 21 points to help lead the Colonials to a 74-67 victory over Central Connecticut Thursday at the Charles L. Sewall Center.
RMU never trailed in the contest, jumping out to a 14-5 lead less than five minutes into the contest. Sophomore guard
Matty McConnell knocked down a pair of three-pointers, while freshman guard
Dachon Burke came up with a steal and a dunk to force CCSU to call timeout.
The Blue Devils used a 12-6 spurt to trim their deficit to 20-17, as Austin Nehls scored six points to bolster the offense for Central Connecticut State.
Robert Morris (7-13, 3-4 NEC) stemmed the tide courtesy of a layup from junior forward
Roberto Mantovani, which ignited a 7-2 spurt to help the Colonials open up a 27-19 lead. RMU eventually entered halftme with a 33-28 advantage.
On four occasions in the second half Central Connecticut (2-16, 0-7 NEC) made it a one-possession game, but each time the Blue Devils would threaten to tie the Colonials had an answer. A 10-2 run helped RMU grab its first double-digit advantage, 53-42, with 11:03 remaining. Mantovani again got the run going with a layup, while Stewart scored five points.
Back-to-back three-pointers from Nehls helped CCSU close to within 53-48, but Robert Morris pushed its advantage back to double digits, 59-49, thanks to a pair of free throws from redshirt senior forward
Aaron Tate, with 6:59 to play.
McConnell capped the win for the Colonials by connecting for three-pointers on consecutive possessions with under three and-a-half minutes left.
"I'm thankful we were able to get the win," head coach
Andrew Toole said. "A little more stressful at times than I would've liked. We shot the ball well from three than we have this season by far, and I thought Tate really stepped up offensively and gave us life. Had a couple tip-ins in the first half and converted at the line in the second half. Something we've been preaching is to keep moving the ball. Tonight I thought we really did that and got good looks."
Stewart finished 6-for-13 from the field, including 1-for-3 from beyond the arc, and was 8-for-9 at the free-throw line in matching his season high in scoring. He also added five rebounds, six assists and two steals.
Also reaching double figures for Robert Morris was McConnell, who finished with 12 points and two steals. Burke contributed 11 points, while Tate registered 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Nehls garnered game-high honors in scoring with 22 points for Central Connecticut, while Khalen Cumberlander also scored in double figures with 13 points.
Robert Morris closes out a two-game homestand Saturday, Jan. 21, when it welcomes Bryant to the Sewall Center for a 4:00 p.m. tip.
Stat Of The Night
2 – Second time in 2016-17 Robert Morris posted a wire-to-wire victory. The Colonials also never trailed in a 62-48 win over Hampton.
Tweet Of The Night
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