GAME 14
Robert Morris (6-7 / 0-0) @ Bryant (1-12 / 0-0)
Friday, December 29, 2017 • 3:00 p.m.
Chace Athletic Center (2,600) • Smithfield, R.I.

Radio: ESPN 970 AM & 106.3 FM
Radio Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp) & Jim Duzyk (color)
Video: BryantBulldogs.com • NECFrontRow.com
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Robert Morris University men's basketball team opens its 2017-18 Northeast Conference slate Friday looking to snap a three-game losing streak with a 3:00 p.m. tip against Bryant at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, R.I.
 
- The Colonials have posted a record of 18-18 (.500) all-time in Northeast Conference openers, including a mark of 9-12 (.429) in league lidlifters on the road. Under eighth-year head coach Andrew Toole, RMU has compiled a record of 5-2 (.714) in NEC openers, including a perfect 3-0 ledger in NEC openers away from home.
 
- The game against Bryant in Smithfield, R.I., is the first of a two-game road swing to open Northeast Conference play. At the conclusion of the trip, Robert Morris will have played 12 of its first 15 games of the 2017-18 season on the road.
 
- The Colonials will play nine of their remaining 16 games of the 2017-18 season at home after their two-game swing through New England, including six at PPG Paints Arena and three at the A.J. Palumbo Center on the campus of Duquesne University.
 
- RMU concluded the non-conference portion of its 2017-18 schedule with a 76-62 loss to Canisius (12/22/17) at the A.J. Palumbo Center. Freshman forward Koby Thomas was the only player to reach double figures for the Colonials against the Golden Griffins and finished with game-high totals in points (20) and rebounds (8). He converted seven of his 14 attempts from the field.
 
- Thomas has scored at least 20 points in five of his first 13 collegiate games and has become just fifth rookie in program history to eclipse the 20-point plateau at least five times as a true freshman. Thomas joins Marcquise Reed (10), Myron Walker (8), Karon Abraham (6) and Jeremy Chappell (5).
 
- In its final non-conference road game of the 2017-18 regular season, RMU dropped an 81-69 decision @ N.C. State (12/19/17). Junior guard Matty McConnell led the Colonials with 17 points and added three rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals.
 
- Sophomore guard Dachon Burke contributed 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds against the Wolfpack, while graduate transfer Ronnie Gombe and freshman guard Leondre Washington each scored 11 points off the bench for Robert Morris. Gombe also grabbed six rebounds, while Washington dished out five assists.
 
- Robert Morris has received seven weekly honors from the Northeast Conference through the first seven weeks of the 2017-18 season. Sophomore guard Dachon Burke won three consecutive NEC Player of the Week accolades, while freshman forward Koby Thomas has been named NEC Rookie of the Week three times. In addition, freshman guard Jon Williams was named NEC Rookie of the Week Dec. 4, 2017.
 
- RMU concludes its New England swing Friday, Dec. 31, with a 3:30 p.m. tip against Central Connecticut State at Detrick Gymnasium in New Britain, Conn.
 
LINKS:
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Game Notes (ISSUU)
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats

Canisius Tidbits - RMU had a six-game winning streak against the Golden Griffins snapped in falling to 6-2 (.750) in the all-time series ... Robert Morris shot just 36.8 percent (21-for-57) from the field, snapping a streak of eight consecutive games in which the Colonials converted at least 40 percent of their shots from the field ... The Golden Griffins, meanwhile, shot 55.4 percent (31-for-56), the second highest field goal percentage by an RMU opponent in 2017-18 and the highest since Ohio State converted 59.7 percent (40-for-67) of its shots in the season opener ... Robert Morris failed to score a point on the fast break but owned a 22-19 edge in points off turnovers ... Of the game-high eight rebounds for freshman forward Koby Thomas, four came on the offensive glass.
 
Thrown Into The Fire - As Robert Morris gets ready to begin play against its Northeast Conference brethren, rookies have played a key part for the Colonials so far this season. Freshman have started 52.3 percent (34-of-65) of the games so far while supplying 51.7 percent (468-of-905) of RMU's scoring output. Overall, newcomers have scored 64.6 percent (585-of-905) of the points for Robert Morris in 2017-18.
 
Shot Ready - Freshman guard Jon Williams has hit at least two three-pointers in each of his last seven games as RMU commences with Northeast Conference play Friday @ Bryant. It marks the longest streak for a member of the Colonials with multiple three-pointers in a game since former guard Rodney Pryor (2014-16) closed out the 2014-15 campaign with at least two triples in 10 consecutive games. During the last seven games, Williams is knocking down 59.4 percent (19-for-32) of his attempts from deep and is averaging 9.0 points and 3.9 assists per contest. Overall this season, Williams ranks fourth in the NEC in three-point field goal percentage at 43.4 percent (23-for-53).
 
Fantastic Frosh - Freshman forward Koby Thomas, a three-time Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week honoree this season, paced the Colonials against Canisius (12/22/17) in RMU's non-conference finale with game-high totals in points (20) and rebounds (8). His performance against the Golden Griffins marked the fifth time this season Thomas has eclipsed the 20-point plateau. Thomas, who produced four games scoring at least 20 points in the first 10 games of his career, the most in school history, has averaged 20.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in RMU's three home games this season while shooting 55.8 percent (24-for-43) from the field. The only player in program history with more 20-point performances in their first 13 collegiate games is all-time leading scorer Myron Walker (1990-94), who turned the trick six times.
 
Forcing The Issue - Robert Morris christens its Northeast Conference slate Friday @ Bryant leading the league and ranking 10th in NCAA I in turnovers forced per game, as opponents are averaging 18.69 miscues per contest. In their non-conference schedule, the Colonials forced more turnovers than committing in 11 of their 13 games and are also pacing the NEC in turnover margin at +3.08. RMU has forced opponents into at least 20 turnovers five times so far this season, including a season-high 26 miscues in a 75-53 victory over Norfolk State (11/24/17) in the Grand Canyon Classic.
 
Start Me Up - Head coach Andrew Toole, who is in his eighth year at the helm of the Colonials in 2017-18, employed 10 different starting lineups last season. Toole, who has won 140 games in eight seasons as head coach at Robert Morris, has used 66 different starting lineups during his tenure. That equates to an average of 2.12 victories per starting five. In 2017-18, Toole has employed four different starting lineups after graduate transfer Ronnie Gombe started at forward against Canisius (12/22/17).

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