GAME 5
Robert Morris (1-3) vs. Norfolk State (0-4)
Friday, November 24, 2017 • 6:00 p.m.
Jack Stephens Center (5,600) • Little Rock, Ark.
Grand Canyon Classic

Radio: ESPN 970 AM & 106.3 FM
Radio Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp) & Jim Duzyk (color)
Video: None
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Robert Morris University men's basketball team continues an eight-game road trip to open its 2017-18 season Friday by returning to play in the Grand Canyon Classic. The Colonials square off with Norfolk State Friday, Nov. 24, in a 6:00 p.m. tip at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock, Ark., for a neutral site contest.
 
- RMU is coming off its first win of the 2017-18 season courtesy of a 66-59 victory @ Duquesne (11/19/17). Junior guard Matty McConnell and junior forward Malik Petteway each scored 13 points to lead the Colonials. Petteway added a career-high 14 rebounds in the win to register his second double-double of the young season.
 
- Sophomore guard Dachon Burke added 11 points, 10 rebounds and four steals in RMU's win over the Dukes, while freshman forward Koby Thomas contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
- Robert Morris traveled 4,940 miles round trip in its first five road games of the season and played in three time zones (Eastern, Mountain, Pacific). The Colonials will compete the time zone quartet Friday against Norfolk State in Little Rock, Ark., with a game in the Central Time Zone.
 
- The Colonials have posted a field goal percent defense of 37.2 percent (42-for-113) over its last 100 minutes of action, including 28 percent (14-for-50) from beyond the arc. The stretch includes the second half @ Grand Canyon (11/13/17) and the last two games. 
 
- In its last game in the Grand Canyon Classic, RMU dropped a 65-53 decision @ San Diego (11/15/17). Freshman guard Leondre Washington paced RMU with 15 point off the bench, while sophomore guard Dachon Burke contributed 11 points and three rebounds.
 
- 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.
 
- 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.
 
- RMU concludes play in the Grand Canyon Classic Saturday, Nov. 25, with a 4:00 p.m. tip against Little Rock at the Jack Stephens Center.

LINKS:
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Game Notes (ISSUU)
- Audio
- Live Stats
 
Duquesne Tidbits - Robert Morris improved to 7-1 (.875) against Duquesne under eighth-year head coach Andrew Toole ... The Dukes hold a 16-12 (.571) edge all-time against the Colonials ... RMU held Duquesne to just 33.3 percent (7-for-21) shooting in the second half and 37 percent (17-for-46) overall ... Robert Morris held advantages across the board in specialty stats, outscoring the Dukes in the paint (40-20), off turnovers (18-10), second-chance attempts (18-8), on the fast break (12-6) and from the reserves (24-14) ... RMU set season highs in points in the paint and second chance and fast break points ... By holding the Dukes to 59 points, the Colonials improved to 50-7 (.877) under Toole when holding their opponent to under 60 points.
 
Shattered Glass - A big reason RMU was able to post its first victory of the 2017-18 campaign in a 66-59 win @ Duquesne (11/19/17) was the work the Colonials did on the backboard. Robert Morris outrebounded the Dukes, 49-32, including a 21-6 advantage on the offensive glass. It marks the highest number of caroms RMU has posted in a non-conference game under eighth-year head coach Andrew Toole as the well as the largest rebounding margin (+17).
 
Double Play - Look no further than junior forward Malik Petteway and sophomore guard Dachon Burke as to why the Colonials posted a 49-32 edge in rebounding in a 66-59 victory @ Duquesne (11/19/17). Petteway finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Burke tallied 11 points and 10 caroms. They became the first duo to record a double-double in the same road game since former Colonials Russell Johnson (2008-13) and Dallas Green (2006-10) turned the trick in a 72-67 win @ Youngstown State (12/30/09), a span of 147 road contests. Petteway registered eight offensive boards against the Dukes and enters Friday's game against Norfolk State tied for fourth in the Northeast Conference with freshman teammate Koby Thomas with an average of 3.00 offensive boards per game.
 
Forcing The Issue - A good sign for Robert Morris in the early portion of the 2017-18 slate has been its ability to force opponents into turnovers. The Colonials have forced more turnovers than committing in each of their first four games of the season and own a turnover margin of +2.75, which ranks second in the Northeast Conference. RMU forced a season-high 21 miscues @ Grand Canyon (11/13/17) and 20 @ Duquesne (11/19/17).
 
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. Through its first four games of the 2017-18 campaign, RMU has compiled 38 steals, an average of 9.50 per game that ranks third in the NEC. Sophomore guard Dachon Burke leads the circuit individually with 3.33 per game.
 
Defense Wins Championships - The numbers bear out that following in the footsteps of defending is victories. Thanks to a 66-59 win @ Duquesne (11/19/17), the Colonials improved to 158-45 (.778) since the beginning of the 2007-08 campaign when holding their opponent to less than 70 points. Under Andrew Toole, RMU owns a mark of 105-37 (.739) when turning the trick. Overall in the last 11 years, the Colonials have held their opponent to under 70 points 58.3 percent (203-of-348) of the time.

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