GAME 17
RMU (8-8, 3-0) @ LIU Brooklyn (7-8, 1-2)
Saturday, January 12, 2019 • 4:30 p.m.
Steinberg Wellness Center (2,500) • Brooklyn, N.Y.

Radio: iHeart Stream (Keyword: RMU)
Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp) & Jim Elias (color)
Video: NECFrontRow.com • LIUAthletics.com 
Twitter: @RMUMBasketball • Instagram: @RMUMBasketball
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Robert Morris University men's basketball team continues a four-game road trip Saturday looking to extend its winning streak to five with a 4:30 p.m. tip against LIU Brooklyn at the Steinberg Wellness Center.
 
- RMU opened a four-game road trip by stretching its winning streak to four with a 52-49 win @ St. Francis Brooklyn (1/10/19). Trailing, 49-46, with 1:56 to play, the Colonials scored the final six points of the contest. Sophomore guard Jon Williams converted a layup with 1:05 left that put Robert Morris in front for good, 50-49, and sophomore forward Charles Bain sealed the win with a pair of free throws with 4.2 seconds to go.
 
- Senior forward Malik Petteway and junior forward Yannis Mendy each scored 13 points to pace RMU against the Terriers. Combined, the duo shot 50 percent (10-for-20) from the field. Mendy added a game-high nine rebounds, while Petteway registered six caroms, a career-high four steals and three blocks.
 
- During its four-game winning streak, Robert Morris has held opponents to just 55.2 points per game on 39.1 percent (81-for-207) shooting from the floor, including 26.6 percent (17-for-54) from deep. The Colonials are also outrebounding their opponent by a margin of +14.8, grabbing an average of 41.2 boards per contest.
 
- RMU enters Saturday's game @ LIU Brooklyn pacing the Northeast Conference in scoring defense, allowing an average of 67.0 points per game, and scoring margin (+1.7). Against league foes, the Colonials lead the circuit in scoring defense (56.7 ppg), rebounding defense (29.0), rebounding margin (+8.3) and offensive caroms (13.67 per game).
 
- The Colonials concluded a perfect three-game homestand by earning a 62-59 win over Mount St. Mary's (1/5/19) at the North Athletic Complex. Senior guard Josh Williams converted in the paint with 13.4 seconds left to give RMU a 60-59 advantage, and he added a pair of free throws 12 seconds later to help seal the victory. Williams finished with 11 points, three assists and a steal in the win.
 
- Senior forward Malik Petteway recorded his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the win over the Mount, while senior guard Matty McConnell added 11 points, eight boards and three assists. In addition, freshman guard Cameron Wilbon registered his first career double-figure scoring game by finishing with 10 points and seven caroms off the bench.
 
- Head coach Andrew Toole owns the highest winning percentage (.633) in games decided by five points or less (minimum 50 games) during the KenPom era (2002 to present). In nine seasons under Toole, the Colonials have posted a record of 57-33 in games decided by five points or less, including 2-1 in 2018-19. Both wins have come against Northeast Conference opponents.
 
LIU BROOKLYN LINKS
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Game Notes (ISSUU)
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats

St. Francis Brooklyn Tidbits - RMU improved to 47-30  (.610) all-time against the Terriers and has won four of the last six meetings at the Pope P.E. Center ... The Colonials held the lead for just 5:25 of the contest ... The contest featured three ties and nine lead changes ... Robert Morris forced St. Francis Brooklyn into 15 turnovers and held them to just six assists ... Sophomore guard Jon Williams dished out a game-high five assists and suffered just one turnover ... Freshman guard Dante Treacy knocked down his first three-pointer since a 68-59 win over Mississippi Valley State (11/17/18), a span of 12 games ... RMU finished 6-for-6 at the free-throw line in the final five minutes, including a 4-for-4 performance by sophomore forward Charles Bain.
 
The All-Time Wins Leader - RMU head coach Andrew Toole picked up career victory No. 158 thanks to a 52-49 win @ St. Francis Brooklyn (1/10/19) that opened a four-game road trip. Thanks to the victory, Toole, who is in his ninth season at the helm leading the Colonials in 2018-19, surpassed former head coach Jarrett Durham for most victories in Robert Morris men's basketball history. Durham posted an overall record of 157-183 (.462) from 1984 to 1996. Toole owns an overall record of 158-131 (.547), including a mark of 94-51 (.648) against league foes.
 
Amongst The Waves - One area the Colonials have significantly improved since the calendar has switched to 2019 has been on the backboards. In starting Northeast Conference play with a perfect 3-0 record, Robert Morris is averaging 37.3 caroms per contest and owns a rebounding margin of +8.3.The duo of junior forward Yannis Mendy and senior forward Malik Petteway have combined for 45 boards in the first three league games, an average of 15 rebounds per game. Mendy has been extremely active on the offensive glass, as he owns 14 offensive caroms and leads the NEC against league foes with an average of 4.67 per game.
 
Mendy In The Middle - Junior forward Yannis Mendy has settled in nicely for the Colonials since Northeast Conference play has commenced, becoming an effective post presence. Against league opposition, Mendy is averaging 10.3 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds while shooting 54.2 percent (13-for-24) from the floor and 83.3 percent (5-for-6) at the free-throw line. Both of his double-figure scoring games have come in the last three games, including a career-high 13 points in a 69-62 win over Fairleigh Dickinson (1/3/19) and 13 points in a 52-49 win @ St. Francis Brooklyn (1/10/19).
 
Free Leek - No member of the Colonials has been more active on both ends of the floor during RMU's current four-game winning streak than senior forward Malik Petteway. During RMU's four-game surge, Petteway leads RMU in scoring at 13.8 points per game and is converting 57.9 percent (22-for-38) of his shot from the floor. He also is averaging 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game during that stretch. Petteway established a career high with four steals in a 52-49 win @ St. Francis Brooklyn (1/10/19) in addition to tying for team-high honors with 13 points. Robert Morris owns a record of 7-2 (.779) this season when Petteway scores in double figures, and he enters Saturday's game against the Blackbirds ranked second in the Northeast Conference in field goal percentage (.536), fourth in blocks (1.44) and 10th in steals (1.31).
 
Did You Know? In a 52-49 victory @ St. Francis Brooklyn (1/10/19), RMU picked up its first win of the season when trailing at the half. The Colonials entered the game 0-7 this year when trailing at the break and were down, 25-18, to the Terriers.
 
Defense Wins Championships - The numbers bear out that following in the footsteps of defending is victories. Thanks to a 52-49 win @ St. Francis Brooklyn (1/10/19), Robert Morris improved to 174-50 (.777) when holding their opponent to under 70 points since the beginning of the 2007-08 season. Under ninth-year head coach Andrew Toole, RMU owns a mark of 121-42 (.742) when turning the trick. Overall the last 12 years, Robert Morris has held its opponent to under 70 points 57 percent (224-of-393) of the time.

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