GAME 9
Robert Morris (4-4) @ Canisius (1-6)
Wednesday, December 5, 2018 • 7:00 p.m.
Koessler Athletic Center (2,196) • Buffalo, N.Y.

Radio: ESPN 970 AM & 106.3 FM
Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp) & Jim Elias (color)
TV: ESPN3
Talent: Jay Moran (pxp) & Richard Walsh (color) 
Twitter: @RMUMBasketball • Instagram: @RMUMBasketball
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Robert Morris University men's basketball team concludes a two-game road trip to open its December schedule Wednesday when it travels to Buffalo, N.Y., for a 7:00 p.m. tip against Canisius at the Koessler Athletic Center.
 
- RMU is playing its sixth road game of the season Wednesday @ Canisius and is playing a game in a sixth different state. The Colonials have also had road games this season in California, Missouri, Florida, Indiana and Pennsylvania. Robert Morris will also visit New Jersey and Kentucky as part of its non-conference slate.
 
- The Colonials opened their two-game road swing by dropping an 82-69 decision @ Drexel (12/1/18). Senior guard Josh Williams led RMU with 15 points and also added five rebounds and a pair of assists.

- Senior guard Matty McConnell contributed 14 points, four rebounds and four assists against the Dragons, while Charles Bain also scored 14 points while grabbing three rebounds.
 
- Robert Morris enters Wednesday's game @ Canisius leading the Northeast Conference in field goal percent defense (.430) and turnover margin (+2.75) while ranking second in the circuit in scoring defense (70.9), three-point field goals (9.25), free-throw percentage (.734), assists (15.50), steals (8.00) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.16).
 
- The Colonials improved to 3-0 at home for the first time since 2012-13 by recording a 76-56 victory over Youngstown State (11/28/18) at the North Athletic Complex. Senior forward Malik Petteway came off the bench to lead five players in double figures with 16 points. He also grabbed six rebounds.
 
- Senior guards Josh Williams and Matty McConnell, as well as sophomore guard Jon Williams, each scored 12 points in the win over the Penguins, combining to go 7-for-16 from beyond the arc while also compiling nine assists and seven steals. Off the bench, sophomore forward Koby Thomas scored 10 points.
 
- The Colonials had their winning streak snapped at three as No. 24/19 Purdue posted an 84-46 win at Mackey Arena (11/23/18). Senior forward Malik Petteway was the lone player from RMU to score in double figures, as he finished with 10 points off the bench.
 
- Robert Morris closed out play in the 2018 National College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic with an 81-72 victory @ Stetson (11/19/18). Senior guard Josh Williams led four players in double figures in the triumph over the Hatters with 18 points. 
 
- Senior forward Malik Petteway chipped in 17 points off the bench in the victory @ Stetson (11/19/18), while sophomore forward Koby Thomas contributed 16 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Senior guard Matty McConnell added 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

CANISIUS LINKS
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Game Notes (ISSUU)
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats
 
Drexel Tidbits - Robert Morris dipped to 2-3 (.400) against Drexel in the all-time series ... The Colonials scored a season-high 38 points in the paint against the Dragons, including a 26-8 advantage in the second half ... Junior forward Yannis Mendy scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and has shot 57.1 percent (8-for-14) from the field in his last two games ... Senior forward Malik Petteway had his streak of consecutive double-figure scoring games snapped at four by finishing with just two points ... Petteway's lone field goal of the contest came with 11:20 to play and finished 1-for-4 shooting from the floor ... Drexel owned a 43-26 advantage on the glass ... RMU posted a 22-14 edge in points off turnovers ... Robert Morris finished 5-for-10 from beyond the arc in the first half but in the second 20 minutes of action went 2-for-11.
 
Creating & Creating - Sophomore guard Jon Williams tied a career-high with eight assists @ Drexel (12/1/18), and more importantly recorded just one turnover. Senior guard Matty McConnell added four assists against the Dragons, and the pair are off to a solid start for Robert Morris in 2018-19 creating offense. The duo enter Wednesday's game @ Canisius tied for third in the Northeast Conference in assists, as each has produced an average of 4.50 per contest. McConnell ranks second in the circuit in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.57), while Williams ranks fourth (1.80) in the same category. Over the last three games, the duo have combined for 25 assists against just eight turnovers.
 
Knock Them Down - Josh Williams sat out the 2017-18 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules after coming to Robert Morris from Akron. A slow start in shooting is now a distant memory, as the senior guard enters Wednesday's game @ Canisius having shot 53.3 percent (32-for-60) from beyond the arc in his last six games. During that stretch, the Colonials are 4-2 (.667) and Williams is averaging 19.2 points per contest. Williams ranks sixth nationally in three-point field goals made per game with an average of 4.50 per contest.
 
2-For-3 - Senior guard Josh Williams enters Wednesday's game @ Canisius having knocked down at least two three-pointers in each of his last six games. It marks the longest streak since former guard Karvel Anderson (2012-14) also converted at least two three-pointers in six straight games during the 2013-14 season. Williams will look to become just the third student-athlete in program history to hit at least two three-pointers in a game in seven consecutive contests Wednesday against the Golden Griffins. Anderson holds the record of nine, which was set in 2012-13. Former guard Scott Shepherd (1988-91) had streaks of seven and eight consecutive games, respectively, during the 1989-90 campaign.
 
The Senior - Matty McConnell became the 47th player in RMU's NCAA Division I history to appear in 100 career games when he played @ Purdue (11/23/18). RMU's active leader in points (852), McConnell moved into a tie for 10th place all-time at Robert Morris for career starts (93) @ Drexel (12/1/18). He is tied with former guard Kavon Stewart (2013-17). Over the last two seasons, Robert Morris owns a record of 16-6 (.727) when McConnell finishes in double figures scoring. Over his last four games, McConnell has produced averages of 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

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