Moon Township, Pa. – Malik Miller's layup for Fairleigh Dickinson as time expired was called off after official video review Thursday as the
Robert Morris University men's basketball team earned a 77-76 victory at the Charles L. Sewall Center.
RMU owned a 74-60 advantage with 4:43 to play after freshman guard
Clive Allen knocked down a three-pointer. The Knights (11-17, 9-8 NEC) closed the game on a 16-3 run but couldn't get the winning basket off in time.
Senior guard
Kavon Stewart gave the Colonials (12-18, 7-9 NEC) a 77-74 advantage with 12 seconds left after knocking down a pair of free throws, but Stephan Jiggetts followed by driving the lane for FDU and was fouled by freshman guard
Dachon Burke. Jiggetts knocked down both attempts at the stripe to pull the Knights to within one, 77-76.
Darnell Edge immediately fouled Stewart with 6.2 seconds remaining, but Stewart missed the front end of a one-on-one situation. Miller came down with the rebound for Fairleigh Dickinson and fed Jiggetts, who raced down the sideline and dished to a streaking Miller at the basket. Miller got the shot to fall, but the basket was waived off. The call was confirmed via video review.
"I'm glad we won," head coach
Andrew Toole said. "We certainly didn't close out the game the way you need to, and we're fortunate we were able to walk away with a win. We didn't defend the way we need to, but offensively it was our best performance of the season. Credit FDU. Once they got down by double digits, you could tell they were playing with a little more freedom because the pressure was off. Part of it with us is as a young team, we're still learning how to put a team away."
In a first half that featured four ties and eight lead changes, Robert Morris used a 16-4 surge to turn a five-point deficit, 28-23, into a 39-32 advantage. It was a balanced attack offensively during the run, as six different Colonials scored. RMU eventually owned a 39-34 lead at the break after Darnell Edge hit a jumper at the end of the first half.
Sophomore guard
Isaiah Still gave the Colonials their first double-digit lead, 46-36, with 18:45 to play after knocking down a three-pointer. The biggest lead of the contest for Robert Morris came with 12:34 to go after Burke picked the pocket of Jiggetts and sped down for a fastbreak dunk to extend the lead to 58-43.
The Colonials kept the Knights at bay until the final four and-a-half minutes but improved to 7-6 (.538) this season in games decided by five points or less, including 2-2 (.500) in games decided by just one point. RMU also posted its ninth consecutive win over Fairleigh Dickinson at the Sewall Center.
Still was one of four players to reach double figures for Robert Morris with 15 points. Tate added 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds, Burke contributed 13 points and three steals and junior guard
Lorenzen Wright, Jr., scored 10 points off the bench. Stewart chipped in with seven points and a season-high nine assists.
Darian Anderson and Jiggetts each scored 17 points for Fairleigh Dickinson, while Edge contributed 15. Jiggetts finished a perfect 13-for-13 at the free-throw line for the Knights.
Robert Morris concludes the 2016-17 regular season by hosting Sacred Heart Saturday, Feb. 25, in a 3:00 p.m. tip in a game that can be seen live on ESPN3. It marks the final game at the Sewall Center for the Colonials.
Stat of The Night
6 – Consecutive games Robert Morris has forced its opponent into at least 15 turnovers. FDU finished with 20 miscues.
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