GAME 8
Robert Morris (4-3) @ Siena (1-5)
Saturday, December 2, 2017 • 2:00 p.m.
Times Union Center (17,500) • Albany, N.Y.

Radio: ESPN 970 AM & 106.3 FM
Radio Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp) & Jim Elias (color)
Video: TBD
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Robert Morris University men's basketball team, winners of four consecutive games, opens December by concluding an eight-game road trip to open its 2017-18 slate with a 2:00 p.m. tip against Siena in Albany, N.Y., at the Times Union Center.
 
- RMU, with a record of 4-3 (.571), is assured of having arguably one of its best road trips in program history. To open the 1993-94 season, the Colonials finished an eight-game road swing 2-6 (.250), while Robert Morris christened its 1990-91 schedule with a 3-6 (.333) mark in nine straight road games to open the year.
 
- Through seven games of its season-opening eight-game road trip, Robert Morris has traveled 6,888 miles (round trip) and played in all four time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific).
 
-  During its four-game winning streak, RMU is holding opponents to an average of 62.5 points per game. Opponents are also averaging 20.25 turnovers over the past four games.
 
- The Colonials extended their winning streak to four with an 81-74 victory @ Youngstown State (11/29/17). Sophomore guard Dachon Burke led five players in double figures against the Penguins with a career-high 21 points and also added nine rebounds, four steals and a pair of blocks.
 
- Junior guard Matty McConnell added 18 points, six boards and four assists in the win over the Penguins, while freshman forward Koby Thomas notched 11 points and four boards. A pair of rookies also registered their first double-figure scoring game in the win @ Youngstown State, as freshman guard Jon Williams scored 11 points to go along with five assists and freshman forward Charles Bain scored 10 points off the bench.
 
- Robert Morris concluded play in the Grand Canyon Classic with a 78-64 victory @ Little Rock (11/25/17). Sophomore guard Dachon Burke was one of four players to reach double figures in scoring against the Trojans, registering a game-high 17 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists.
 
- Freshman forward Koby Thomas and junior guard Matty McConnell each scored 15 points in the win @ Little Rock (11/25/17), while freshman guard Leondre Washington supplied 12 points off the bench. Thomas also grabbed nine rebounds.
 
- RMU posted a 75-53 victory over Norfolk State (11/24/17) in the first of two games at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock, Ark., as part of the Grand Canyon Classic. In 25 minutes, freshman forward Koby Thomas scored a game-high 21 points on 9-for-10 shooting from the field, including a 3-for-4 performance from beyond the arc.
 
- Freshman guard Leondre Washington contributed 16 points and five assists off the bench in the win over the Spartans, while sophomore guard Dachon Burke registered 15 points, five assists and a pair of steals.

LINKS:
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Game Notes (ISSUU)
- Audio
- Live Stats
 
Youngstown State Tidbits - Robert Morris snapped a four-game slide against the Penguins with the victory and improved to 10-8 (.556) all-time against Youngstown State ... Of the 18 meetings between the two programs, 13 have been decided by eight points or less, including five by three points or fewer ... YSU shot just 18.8 percent (3-for-16) from beyond the arc, a season low by an RMU opponent ... The Colonials recorded a season-high seven blocks, including three by junior forward Malik Petteway ... The Penguins held a 33-32 edge in rebounding ... Youngstown State was the first opponent on RMU's 2017-18 schedule to finish with fewer turnovers (14) than Robert Morris (19).
 
A Team Effort - Robert Morris has been playing complete basketball during its four-game winning streak, and the proof is in the digits. During the surge, the Colonials are outscoring their opponents by a margin of +12.5, own a turnover margin of +2.5 and have outrebounded opponents by a +6.8 margin. RMU has also held each of its last four foes to a shooting percentage of just 30.5 percent (18-for-59) from beyond the arc.
 
Blast Off - Dachon Burke led the way in an 81-74 win @ Youngstown State (11/29/17), scoring a career-high 21 points for Robert Morris to go along with nine rebounds, four steals and two blocks. The reigning NEC Player of the Week, Burke has scored in double figures in each of his six games this season. During RMU's four-game winning streak, Burke is averaging a team-high 16.0 points per contest while shooting 51.1 percent (23-for-45) from the field. He is also producing averages of 7.5 rebounds,  2.5 steals and 2.3 assists per game.
 
Depth Charge - Charles Bain was one of five Colonials to score in double figures in an 81-74 victory @ Youngstown State (11/29/17), as the rookie forward registered the first double-scoring game of his career with 10 points. Getting production from its bench has been a key for Robert Morris during its four-game winning streak, as reserves are averaging 24.0 points per game. RMU has received at least 20 points from its bench in each of its last six games entering Saturday's tilt @ Siena and overall this season the bench is averaging 23.4 points per contest.
 
On The Offensive - Thanks to a shooting percentage of 53.1 percent (26-for-49) in an 81-74 victory @ Youngstown State (11/29/17), RMU improved to 38-5 (.884) when shooting 50 percent or better from the field in eight seasons under head coach Andrew Toole, including a mark of 29-1 (.967) against NEC opponents. Broken down against league foes, Robert Morris is 26-1 (.963) in the regular season and 3-0 in the NEC Tournament when converting at least half of its shots.
 
Did You Know? In seven seasons under head coach Andrew Toole, Robert Morris has compiled a record of 81-32 (.717) when scoring at least 70 points in a game. Included in that record is a mark of 29-4 (.879) when eclipsing the 80-point plateau.
 
Free Is For Me - Robert Morris stretched its winning streak to four in an 81-74 victory @ Youngstown State (11/29/17) by visiting the free-throw line a season-high 33 times, converting 22 of those attempts (66.7%). Getting to the charity stripe at least 30 times in a game is a good sign for the Colonials. RMU owns a record of 28-10 (.737) under head coach Andrew Toole when visiting the chalk at least 30 times in a contest.

Keep On Rockin ... Robert Morris closes out an eight-game road trip to open its 2017-18 season @ Siena (12/2/17), and the Times Union Center will become the 15th arena that the Colonials have played in that has also featured a concert by Pearl Jam since the band's formation in 1990. Also included is John Paul Jones Arena (Charlottesville, Va.), PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh, Pa.), the Pan American Center (Las Cruces, N.M.), Time Warner Cable Arena (Charlotte, N.C.), The L.A. Sports Arena (Los Angeles, Calif.), the Verizon Center (Washington, D.C.), the FedExForum (Memphis, Tenn.), Rupp Arena (Lexington, Ky.), the Palace at Auburn Hills (Detroit, Mich.), the Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.), Savage Arena (Toledo, Ohio), the Wolstein Center (Cleveland, Ohio), the Bryce Jordan Center (State College, Pa.) and A.J. Palumbo Center (Pittsburgh, Pa.).

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