Buffalo, N.Y. – The
Robert Morris University men's basketball team concluded a two-game road trip Wednesday with a 68-62 loss to Canisius at the Koessler Athletic Center. The Golden Griffins snap a six-game losing streak and drop the Colonials to 4-5 overall in 2018-19.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Senior guard
Josh Williams hit a pair of free throws with 4:42 to go to pull the Colonials to within 54-53 and Robert Morris picked up a steal on the next possession by the Golden Griffins. RMU couldn't convert, however, after the theft, and three-pointers by Takal Molson and Malik Johnson gave Canisius a 60-53 advantage with 2:57 left.
QUOTABLE
"In a game where there isn't going to be a ton of possessions because of the styles that both teams play, to give away 10 points is disappointing," head coach
Andrew Toole said. "Until we understand how important each possession is and every detail and every opportunity we get to practice, we're going to come up short. I don't know if it hurts our guys enough yet."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Colonials got off to a good start offensively for the third straight game, jumping out to a 17-10 lead before Canisius used a 19-2 run to grab its biggest lead of the contest, 29-19. It was indicative of how the game would play out, as the tilt featured four ties and 11 lead changes.
SCORE THE BASKETBALL
Robert Morris went over seven minutes without converting a field goal in the second half. Senior guard
Josh Williams hit a three-pointer with 8:18 to play, but the Colonials didn't hit a field goal until senior guard
Matty McConnell scored on a baseline drive with 1:14 to play that closed RMU to within 62-57.
FOULING OUT
Junior forward
Yannis Mendy and senior guards
Matty McConnell and
Josh Williams each fouled out, marking just the third, fourth and fifth disqualifications of the 2018-19 season. It's the first time this season more than one member of the Colonials compiled five fouls in the same game.
QUOTABLE
"Urgency is a mentality," Toole said. "You see when someone is urgent physically, but really it's a mentality. It's getting to where you need to get, how you're able to move on time with the game, how you're able to communicate and adjust. We lack urgency in a few stretches, and suddenly the game gets upside down. We just don't have enough guys there yet in order to be a talented team."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Jonathan Sanks missed the back end of a pair of free throws with 28 seconds left and the Golden Griffins leading, 64-61, but RMU couldn't corral the rebound. Instead, Takal Molson grabbed the offensive board, was fouled and converted both to give Canisius a 66-61 lead.
TRIPLE DECKER
Senior guard
Josh Williams, who led all scorers in the contest with 17 points, has knocked down at least two three-pointers in seven consecutive games, becoming just the third student-athlete in school history to turn the trick. Williams joins Scott Shepherd (1988-91) and Karvel Anderson (2012-14). He finished 3-for-8 from deep against the Golden Griffins and a perfect 8-for-8 at the free-throw line.
AT THE STRIPE
Robert Morris visited the free-throw line a season-high 31 times against Canisius, converting 22 of those attempts (71 percent). The Colonials dipped to 31-12 (.721) in nine seasons under head coach
Andrew Toole when visiting the free-throw line at least 30 times in a game.
UP NEXT
Robert Morris returns home to the North Athletic Complex for its second of three consecutive games against opponents from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Colonials will host Siena in a 4:00 p.m. tip.
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