Smithfield, R.I. – The
Robert Morris University men's basketball team opened its Northeast Conference slate Friday by snapping a three-game losing streak with a 68-54 win over Bryant at the Chace Athletic Center.
In evening its overall record at 7-7, RMU held the Bulldogs to a shooting percentage of just 26.9 percent (7-for-26) in the second half, including 1-for-9 (11.1%) from beyond the arc. Overall, Bryant's three starting guards in Ikenna Ndugba, Taylor McHugh and Adam Grant combined for 10 points on 3-of-21 shooting from the floor, including 1-for-9 from deep.
Bosko Kostur gave the Bulldogs a 44-39 lead at the 11:45 mark of the second half with a driving layup, but the Colonials scored the next 10 points of the contest to turn their five-point deficit into a five-point advantage, 49-44. Junior guard
Matty McConnell opened the surge with a jumper and capped it with a layup that forced Bryant to call timeout with 8:47 remaining.
Sabastian Townes converted a pair of free throws to try and stem the tide for the Bulldogs, but Robert Morris grabbed its first double-digit advantage, 57-47, after a layup from sophomore guard
Dachon Burke. The bucket capped an 18-3 run that helped decide the game in RMU's favor.
"We were able to figure it out," head coach
Andrew Toole said. "Our defensive urgency really stepped up in the second half. We had some errors that we have to clean up, especially with fouls, but anytime you can go on the road and get a conference win, it's important."
Robert Morris shot 94.1 percent (16-for-17) from the free-throw line in the second half and a season-high 84 percent (21-for-25) overall, as freshman guard
Jon Williams connected on all six of his attempts at the stripe, while McConnell was 8-for-9.
McConnell led four players in double figures scoring for RMU with 18 points while also adding six rebounds and a pair of blocks. Burke contributed 15 points, six caroms, two assists and two steals, while Williams tallied 13 points and four boards.
The only player to reach double figures for Bryant was Townes, who finished with 14 points but shot 3-for-14 from the field while going 8-for-12 at the free-throw line.
Bryant jumped out to a 6-0 lead and owned its biggest advantage, 15-7, with 10:58 left in the first half after a jumper from Hunter Ware. The Bulldogs opened the game converting eight of their 16 shots from the field but were just 11-for-42 (26.2%) the rest of the way.
Also reaching double figures for RMU was freshman guard
Leondre Washington, who scored 10 points off the bench. Graduate transfer
Ronnie Gombe, meanwhile, established a career high in rebounds by finishing with a game-high 11 caroms.
Thanks to the win, Robert Morris improved to 6-2 (.750) in NEC openers in eight years under Toole, including 4-0 on the road. The Colonials conclude their two-game swing through New England to open their league schedule Sunday, Dec. 31, with a 3:30 p.m. tip against Central Connecticut State in New Britain, Conn., at Detrick Gymnasium.
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