GAME 4
Robert Morris (0-3) @ Duquesne (2-0)
Sunday, November 19, 2017 • 5:30 p.m.
A.J. Palumbo Center (4,390) • Pittsburgh, Pa.

Radio: ESPN 970 AM & 106.3 FM
Radio Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp) & Jim Elias (color)
Video: Atlantic 10 Network
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Robert Morris University men's basketball team continues an eight-game road trip to open its 2017-18 season Sunday with its shortest trip of the year, traveling 18 miles to Pittsburgh, Pa., via I-376 for a 5:30 p.m. tip against Duquesne at the A.J. Palumbo Center.
 
- The Colonials are coming off a 65-53 setback @ San Diego (11/15/17) in the second of four games in the Grand Canyon Classic. Freshman guard Leondre Washington paced RMU with 15 point off the bench, while sophomore guard Dachon Burke contributed 11 points and three rebounds.
 
- RMU's first three games on its 2017-18 schedule saw the Colonials spend a week on the road and travel a total of 4,886 miles. Robert Morris also played in three different times zones (Eastern, Mountain, Pacific).
 
- The Colonials opened the Grand Canyon Classic with a 75-61 setback to the host Antelopes in Phoenix, Ariz., at GCU Arena. Sophomore guard Dachon Burke paced the Colonials against Grand Canyon (11/13/17) with 15 points and a career-high six steals.
 
- Freshman forward Koby Thomas tallied 13 points, four rebounds and a steal against the Antelopes, while junior forward Malik Petteway recorded his first career double-double off the bench courtesy of 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
- The Colonials tipped off their 42nd season of Division I basketball with a 95-64 loss @ Ohio State (11/10/17). Junior guard Matty McConnell scored a career-high 22 points, while freshman forward Koby Thomas also scored 22 points.
 
- Robert Morris was tabbed seventh in the 2017 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll, the program's lowest projection since being picked to finish 10th in 2005. Robert Morris has never been the preseason favorite in the poll despite owning a league-high eight NEC Tournament titles, the last of which came in 2015.
 
- Junior guard Matty McConnell appeared in all 33 games in 2016-17 as a sophomore, earning 27 starts, and posted averages of 7.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest while ranking third in the NEC in steals (1.64 per game).
 
- Sophomore guard Dachon Burke played in all 33 games in 2016-17 as a rookie, finishing third for the Colonials in scoring at 7.6 points per game while grabbing an average of 3.9 rebounds per contest. He ranked sixth in the NEC in steals per game (1.55).
 
- RMU's contest against the Dukes at A.J. Palumbo Center is part of an eight-game road trip to open the year. It marks the longest road trip to open a season since the 1993-94 campaign, when the Colonials also opened the year with eight consecutive games away from home. The longest season-opening road trip in school history is nine, which came in 1990-91.

LINKS:
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Game Notes (ISSUU)
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats
 
San Diego Tidbits - The meeting between the Colonials and Toreros was the first in the all-time series between the two programs ... RMU shot just 28.6 percent (8-for-30) from the field in the second half and 33.3 percent (18-for-54) overall ... Robert Morris has yet to shoot at least 40 percent in a game yet this season ... The Colonials forced San Diego into 16 turnovers and lead the Northeast Conference (NEC) in turnover margin at +2.00 ... Redshirt freshman David Cole produced career highs in both points (8) and rebounds (5) and was 4-for-5 at the free-throw line ... RMU held a 14-11 edge in points off turnovers and its bench outscored the USD reserves, 28-17.
 
String It Together - Robert Morris has shown glimpses of following its formula in the first three games of the 2017-18 season that usually leads to success. In their season opener @ Ohio State (11/10/17), the Colonials knocked down 10 three-pointers. In the second game of the year @ Grand Canyon (11/13/17), RMU outrebounded the Antelopes, 39-37. Finally, Robert Morris held San Diego (11/15/17) to under 70 points. RMU wins at a 76.1 percent clip when accomplishing one of those three things in a game.
 
Defense Wins Championships - The numbers bear out that following in the footsteps of defending is victories. Over the last 10 seasons, the Colonials own an overall record of 157-45 (.777) when holding their opponent to under 70 points. Under Andrew Toole, RMU owns a mark of 104-37 (.738) when turning the trick. Overall in the last 10 years, the Colonials have held their opponent to under 70 points 58.2 percent (202-of-347) of the time.
 
Steal City - Robert Morris has consistently been at the top of the Northeast Conference leaderboard in steals throughout head coach Andrew Toole's tenure, as the Colonials have topped the circuit five times (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) under Toole and seven times in the last 10 years. In 2016-17, RMU posted a league-high average of 7.91 steals per contest. Robert Morris returns two of the top six pick pockets from a year ago, as guard Matty McConnell ranked third in the circuit in steals per game (1.64), while guard Dachon Burke ranked sixth (1.55). 
 
Strengthening The Rotation - Sophomore guard Dachon Burke made his 2017-18 debut @ Grand Canyon (11/13/17) and immediately made his presence felt, as he led the Colonials with 15 points. Burke shot 4-for-12 from the field, knocking down his only attempt from beyond the arc, and also went 6-for-7 at the free-throw line. On the defensive end, Burke established a career high with six steals. In his first two games of the season, Burke is supplying the Colonials with averages of 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game.
 
So, What's New? Plenty, to be precise. The 2017-18 version of Robert Morris basketball features 11 newcomers, including six freshman, two junior college transfers, two graduate transfers and a transfer. Among RMU's 11 newcomers is 10 on scholarship, which is tied for second in the NCAA with Little Rock entering the 2017-18 season. The only program with more scholarship newcomers is Pittsburgh, which has 11. The Colonials and Trojans will square off this season in the final game of the Grand Canyon Classic Saturday, Nov. 25.
 
Plenty Of Playing Time - Given the number of new faces on the RMU roster in 2017-18, the latest batch of Colonials will have plenty of opportunities to work their way into the rotation. Robert Morris returns a total of 1,611 minutes from last season in junior guard Matty McConnell (854), sophomore guard Dachon Burke (755) and junior forward Seth Rouse (2). Only seven programs entered the year with fewer minutes returning from last season, led by Mississippi Valley State. The Delta Devils return just 386 minutes from last season. RMU is also one of just six programs to feature no seniors on its roster in 2017-18, joining American, Chattanooga, The Citadel, Holy Cross and Kentucky.

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