GAME 22
Saint Francis U (8-11, 4-4 NEC) vs. RMU (12-9, 7-1 NEC)
Thursday, January 31, 2019 • 7:00 p.m.
North Athletic Complex (1,000) • Moon Township, Pa.

Radio: ESPN 970 AM & 106.3 FM
Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp) & Jim Elias (color)
Video: RMUColonials.com • NECFrontRow.com 
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Robert Morris University men's basketball team, winners of four consecutive games and eight of nine, concludes a three-game homestand at the North Athletic Complex Thursday with a 7:00 p.m. tip against Saint Francis U.
 
- In nine years with Andrew Toole at the helm of the program, RMU has compiled a record of 48- 30 (.615) during the month of January, including a 6-1 (.857) mark this season. Since the beginning of the 2007-08 campaign, the Colonials have posted a record of 74-31 (.705) in January.
 
- Robert Morris stretched it winning streak to four with a 57-51 victory over Wagner (1/26/19) at the North Athletic Complex. Sophomore guard Jon Williams hit a baseline jumper with exactly a minute to play to give the Colonials a 49-45 edge, and RMU shot 8-for-8 at the free-throw line in the final 31 seconds to seal the victory.
 
- Senior forward Malik Petteway paced RMU against the Seahawks with 13 points and also added five rebounds and a block. He converted five of his nine shots from the floor and was 3-for-3 at the free-throw line as the Colonials shot a season high 88.9 percent (16-for-18) at the stripe. Senior guard Matty McConnell contributed eight points and a career-high 12 rebounds in the win over Wagner.
 
- Robert Morris enters Thursday's game against Saint Francis U leading the Northeast Conference in scoring defense (66.2 ppg) and scoring margin (+2.8) while ranking second in the circuit in three-point field goal percentage (.356), three-point field goal percent defense (.322), rebounding defense (33.2 rpg), steals (7.90 per game) and turnover margin (+1.29).
 
- Against Northeast Conference opposition, the Colonials lead the league in scoring defense (61.1 ppg), rebounding defense (29.8 rpg) and steals (8.50 per game). Senior forward Malik Petteway has posted 16 steals in eight league contests, an average of 2.00 steals per game that is tops in the circuit.
 
- 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.
 
- Senior guard Matty McConnell is RMU's active leading scorer with 981 career points and is 19 shy of becoming the 25th member of the Robert Morris 1,000-Point Club. McConnell also leads the NEC in steals with an average of 1.86 per contest.
 
- The Colonials opened their three-game homestand with a 72-64 victory over Sacred Heart (1/24/19). Senior guard Matty McConnell led the way with a season-high 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, including 3-for-5 from deep, and a 4-for-6 performance at the free-throw line.

SAINT FRANCIS U LINKS
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Game Notes (ISSUU)
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats
 
Wagner Tidbits - Robert Morris snapped a five-game losing streak against the Seahawks and improved to 43-33 (.566) in the all-time series against Wagner ... The Colonials held the Seahawks to just 31.3 percent (15-for-48) shooting from the field, including 25 percent (6-for-24) from beyond the arc ... Romone Saunders scored a game-high 16 points for Wagner on the strength of a 7-for-8 performance at the free-throw line ... RMU outrebounded the Seahawks, 44-28, including an 18-8 advantage on the offensive glass ... Sophomore guard Jon Williams blocked a pair of shots for Robert Morris ... RMU held a 22-12 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Knock Them Down - Robert Morris has stretched its winning streak to four games in large part because it's taking advantage of its chances at the free-throw line. The Colonials earned a 57-51 win over Wagner (1/26/19) by converting a season-high 88.9 percent (16-for-18) of its attempts at the chalk, including a perfect 8-for-8 in the final 31 seconds. Senior guards Josh Williams and Matty McConnell each went 4-for-4 at the free-throw line to help secure the win over the Seahawks. During its homestand, RMU has shot 86.5 percent (32-for-37) at the stripe, led by Williams, who is 9-for-9. Williams enters Thursday's game having connected on each of his last 10 attempts at the free-throw line.
 
Home Security - Robert Morris enters Thursday's game against Saint Francis U with a record of 8-1 (.889) at home in the North Athletic Complex and have been extremely defensive. Opponents are averaging just 59.2 points per game at the North Athletic Complex and have shot just 27.5 percent (49-for-178) from beyond the arc. That hasn't changed against Northeast Conference foes, as each of RMU's first four opponents have failed to score 65 points. League opposition is averaging just 59.0 points per contest and have shot 24.2 percent (16-for-66) from beyond the arc. In home games against the NEC, senior guard Matty McConnell leads Robert Morris offensively with an average of 13.3 points per game.
 
The Anatomy Of A Streak - During its four-game winning streak, Robert Morris has trailed for a total of 54 seconds. The Colonials fell behind @ Bryant, 9-8, after a three-pointer from Adam Grant with 15:03 to play in the first half in Smithfield, R.I., but jumped back in front at the 14:26 mark after a steal and layup from senior forward Malik Petteway. RMU also trailed, 19-17, with 6:53 to go in the first half @ Central Connecticut but tied the game 17 seconds later and then regained the lead for good on a jumper from Cameron Wilbon at the 6:10 mark of the first half. The Colonials haven't trailed since.
 
The Senior - Matty McConnell, RMU's active leading scorer with 981 career points, needs just 19 points to become the 25th member of the Robert Morris 1,000-Point Club. Over the last two seasons, the Colonials have compiled a record of 22-7 (.759) when McConnell scores in double figures. McConnell is also RMU's active leader in rebounds with 452 and is 48 caroms shy of becoming the 19th member of the Robert Morris 500-Rebound Club. Should he join both, McConnell would be the 14th student-athlete in program history to accomplish the feat.
 
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 7-1 record, Robert Morris is averaging 34.0 caroms per contest and owns a rebounding margin of +4.2. The duo of junior forward Yannis Mendy and senior forward Malik Petteway have combined for 96 boards in the first eight league games, an average of 12.0 rebounds per contest. As a team, RMU is allowing an average of 29.8 rebounds per game, which is tops in the conference against NEC opposition for rebounding defense.
 
Defensively Speaking - Robert Morris has won 16 consecutive games when holding opponents to less than 60 points dating back to the 2016-17 season after a 57-51 victory over Wagner (1/26/19) at the North Athletic Complex. In nine years under Andrew Toole, the Colonials are 63-7 (.900) when turning the trick, including a perfect 8-0 mark in 2018-19. The last loss for RMU when yielding under 60 points was a 48-47 setback @ Mount St. Mary's (1/26/17).
 
Board Games - Part of following the formula in regard to being successful for RMU over the last 12 seasons has been the program's ability to crash the boards. Since the beginning of the 2007-08 campaign, Robert Morris owns a record of 156-40 (.796) when the Colonials are even or better in rebounding in a game, including a 147-34 (.812) mark when outrebounding their opponent.

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