Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University men's basketball team concluded the non-conference portion of its 2018-19 schedule Saturday with a 108-51 victory over Hood College at the North Athletic Complex. In snapping a five-game losing streak, the Colonials finish with a 5-8 record in non-conference action as Northeast Conference play begins next week.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Robert Morris shot 66.2 percent (43-for-65) from the field on the strength of a 25-for-35 performance in the second half. It marks the second highest field goal percentage by the Colonials in program history. The only time RMU shot higher came in an 82-68 victory @ Marist (2/19/90), when the Colonials converted 67.4 percent (29-for-43) of their attempts from the floor.
ECLIPSING 100
RMU eclipsed 100 points for the second time in 2018-19 in the win over Hood, with the 108 points against the Blazers the most in nine seasons under head coach
Andrew Toole. The point total also ranks fourth in single-game history. In victories over Ohio Wesleyan (12/1/81), LIU Brooklyn (2/8/90) and Medaille (12/29/05), the Colonials scored 111, 110 and 109 points, respectively.
QUOTABLE
"Our guys did a good job of maintaining their energy throughout the course of the game," head coach
Andrew Toole said. "One of the things we talked about was defending the three. We made it difficult for Hood to get good, clean looks in transition. Offensively, we had really good ball movement and took high percentage shots, which is always helpful."
DISHING IT OUT
Robert Morris dished out a single-game record 32 assists. Nine of the 10 players that saw action against the Blazers registered at least one helper, led by sophomore forward
Chris Coalmon, who finished with a game-high six, also a career high. Freshman guard
Cameron Wilbon added five assists, while senior guard
Matty McConnell also registered five dimes.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
RMU has won 12 consecutive games when holding opponents to less than 60 points. In nine years under Toole, the Colonials are 59-7 (.894) when turning the trick.
SIX PACK
Senior forward
Malik Petteway paced the Colonials against the Blazers, registering his second double-double of the season and fifth of his career with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He was one of six players to score in double figures in the win, joining
Matty McConnell (17),
Charles Bain (14),
Josh Williams and
Jon Williams (12 each) and
Sayveon McEwen (11). It's the first time six players turned the trick since a 91-65 victory over Sacred Heart (1/23/14), a span of 161 contests.
ARMY RESERVE
The RMU bench supplied a season-high 47 points in the win over Hood, combining to shoot a robust 74.1 percent (20-for-27) from the field. Petteway knocked down eight of his nine attempts, Wilbon was 4-for-4 and Coalmon shot 3-for-5.
SURF BOARD
Junior forward
Yannis Mendy pulled down 10 rebounds in the first half and finished the game with a career-high 15 as the Colonials posted a dominating 53-19 edge on the glass. It marks the first time Robert Morris has finished with 50 caroms in a game since an 89-46 win over Fairleigh Dickinson (2/23/13), while the 15 boards for Mendy is the most by a member of the Colonials since former forward Russell Johnson (2008-13) also pulled down 15 rebounds @ St. Francis Brooklyn (1/31/13).
QUOTABLE
"We still have a long way to go," Toole said. "Some of these guys will learn the difficulties of conference basketball in the next few weeks. It's always good to get a win. We have to get back to work on Monday in preparing for Fairleigh Dickinson Thursday night."
UP NEXT
Robert Morris continues a three-game homestand at the North Athletic Complex Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, with a 7:00 p.m. tip against Fairleigh Dickinson to open NEC play.
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