Loretto, Pa. – Isaiah Blackmon's three-pointer with 25.9 seconds left in overtime helped lift Saint Francis U to an 89-83 victory over the
Robert Morris University men's basketball team Saturday at DeGol Arena.
The triple from Blackmon gave the Red Flash (9-12, 6-4 NEC) an 85-83 advantage. RMU had a chance to either tie or take the lead on its next possession, but a three-pointer from sophomore guard
Matty McConnell from the top of the key with 14 seconds remaining in the extra frame didn't fall.
Deivydas Kuzavas came down the with the rebound for SFU off McConnell's missed shot, and he connected on both of his attempts at the free-throw line with 11.7 seconds to go to help seal the win for the Red Flash.
"Our guys continue to fight, but again, we do so many things that hurt us," head coach
Andrew Toole said. "It just kills you. We had our opportunities, but it didn't happen. We just don't treat every possession like it's going to impact the win or loss. How many games can you lose by one possession before we are going to take that seriously? We've been fighting, and that's necessary, but winning is a lot better."
In a game that featured eight ties and 13 lead changes, Robert Morris (7-16, 3-7 NEC) forced the extra period with a 5-0 surge in the final 1:51 of regulation to knot the score, 68-68. Redshirt senior forward
Aaron Tate started the spurt by converting a three-point play to make it 68-66 in favor of the Red Flash, and senior guard
Kavon Stewart's runner in the lane with 30.6 seconds left tied the score.
Saint Francis U tried to win the game in regulation, but Jamaal King's jumper was off the mark.
Freshman guard
Dachon Burke gave the Colonials a 72-70 lead with 3:37 to go in overtime with a dunk over Josh Nebo, but Blackmon answered for the Red Flash by burying a three-pointer. Blackmon followed by converting a running layup to give SFU a 75-72 lead, but McConnell tied the game, 75-75, by connecting from deep.
The back-and-forth affair in overtime continued, as Georgios Angelou nailed a three-pointer to again give Saint Francis U a three-point cushion, 78-75. Stewart would respond for the Colonials, converting in the lane and being fouled in the act by Nebo. Stewart hit the free throw to tie the score again, 78-78.
At the 1:29 mark of overtime Kuzavas pushed the Red Flash back in front, 79-78, but hitting the back end of a pair of free throws, but freshman guard
Clive Allen connected from beyond the arc to give Robert Morris an 81-79 advantage.
On SFU's next possession, King drove the lane and converted in the paint and in the process was fouled by junior guard
Lorenzen Wright, Jr. King knocked down the free throw to give Saint Francis U an 82-81 edge.
Stewart came through again, hitting a layup with 40 seconds left to give Robert Morris its final lead, 83-82. He was fouled in the act by Keith Braxton but missed the free-throw attempt. That set up the big shot from Blackmon, who scored 18 of his game-high 20 points after halftime, including eight in the extra frame.
McConnell led the Colonials by tying a career high with 16 points, while Tate added a career-high 15 points. Also reaching double figures for RMU was Stewart, who finished with 14 points, six assists, four rebounds and a steal.
Randall Gaskins, Jr., tied for game-high honors in scoring with Blackmon by compiling 20 points for Saint Francis U, while Nebo (15) and King (11) also finished in double figures. Nebo registered a double-double courtesy of 10 boards while also blocking six shots.
Robert Morris limited the Red Flash to just one three-pointer in their first eight attempts, but SFU closed the game by draining seven of eight opportunities from international waters, including 3-for-3 in overtime. Overall Saint Francis U shot 85.7 percent (6-for-7) from the floor in the extra frame.
The Colonials, who have suffered five of their seven losses in league play by a total of 17 points, continue a four-game road trip Thursday, Feb. 2, with a 7:00 p.m. tip at LIU Brooklyn.
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