Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University men's basketball team opened a two-game road trip through the Midwest Thursday with a 72-62 loss to UIC at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, Ill.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Trailing, 46-39, the Flames (2-3) used a 19-2 run to open up their first double-digit lead of the contest, 58-48, and take control. The three-pointer became the difference, as Tarkus Ferguson, Godwin Boahen and Jamie Ahale each hit from deep over the span of two and-a-half minutes to give UIC a 10-point advantage. Robert Morris hit just one field goal in a stretch that lasted almost 10 minutes, which was a three-pointer from forward
Charles Bain.
QUOTABLE
"UIC came out with really good urgency in the second half, and it showed," said Pat Gallagher Head Coach Andy Toole. "I thought we did some positive things in the first half, but we didn't show the same urgency in the second half. We're trying to figure out who we can rely on. We need to find some guys that are locked in night in and night out."
BENCH SPARK
The Colonials (1-5) got a huge spark off the bench in the first half in building a 33-24 lead at halftime. Hawkins and Bain combined for 15 points, converting five of their 12 shots from the floor. Bain knocked down both of his attempts from beyond the arc, while Hawkins was 3-for-6 from the floor and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. However, Robert Morris slipped to 118-31 (.792) in 10 seasons under Toole when leading at the break.
TALE OF TWO HALVES
UIC converted just 10 of its 26 shots (38.5%) from the field in the first half in falling behind by nine at the break. In the second half, the Flames got hot, converting 62.1 percent (18-for-29) of their attempts from the floor, including 41.7 percent (5-for-12) from beyond the arc. Overall, UIC shot 50.9 percent (28-for-55) from the field.
GROWING
Sophomore
Dante Treacy continues to put together an all-around game for RMU in the early going of the 2019-20 season. He scored in double figures for the third consecutive game, tying a career high with 13 points while dishing out six assists and recording three steals. He shot 6-for-11 from the floor. Also reaching double figures for the Colonials was Hawkins with a career-high 14 points, Bain (11) and junior forward
AJ Bramah (11).
QUOTABLE
"We have to be able to take that punch and continue to run offense and make plays," Toole said. "It's a cardinal sin of basketball when you're not ready to shoot the basketball. From the bench a lot of coaches are yelling at the guys to shoot. It's just an odd phenomenon."
BLOCK PARTY
UIC finished with 10 blocks in the contest, including five from Michael Diggins, who also finished with 12 points. Boahen paced the Flames with 17 points, while Ferguson scored 14 points.
UP NEXT
RMU travels to Milwaukee, Wisc., to take on Marquette Saturday, Nov. 23, for a 2:00 p.m. ET tip in a game that can be seen live on FS2. The contest wraps up a four-game road swing for the Colonials.
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