GAME 26
RMU (13-12, 8-4 NEC) @ Mount St. Mary's (6-19, 3-9 NEC)
Thursday, February 14, 2019 • 7:00 p.m.
Knott Arena (3,500) • Emmitsburg, Md.

Radio: ESPN 970 AM & 106.3 FM
Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp) & Jim Elias (color)
Video: MountAthletics.com • NECFrontRow.com
Twitter: @RMUMBasketball • Instagram: @RMUMBasketball
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Robert Morris University men's basketball team plays four of its final six regular-season games on the road, beginning with a two-game road swing that opens Thursday with a 7:00 p.m. tip against Mount St. Mary's at Knott Arena in Emmitsburg, Md.
 
- The Colonials, who have dropped three of their past four games, wrapped up a two-game homestand at the North Athletic Complex with a 77-68 setback to Central Connecticut State (2/9/19). Tied, 57-57, with six and-a-half minutes to play, the Blue Devils used an 8-0 surge to take control. Senior forward Malik Petteway paced RMU with 16 points, seven rebounds and a block off the bench.
 
- Senior guard Josh Williams finished with 12 points and three rebounds against CCSU, while sophomore forward Charles Bain contributed 10 points and three assists. Freshman guard Dante Treacy established career highs in both points (10) and assists (5) against the Blue Devils.
 
- Senior guard Matty McConnell, who tied a career high with five steals against Central Connecticut (2/9/19), leads the Northeast Conference in steals with an average of 1.88 per contest thanks to 47 thefts in 25 games. RMU's active leading scorer (1,027 points) and rebounder (478), McConnell needs 22 caroms to become the 14th player in program history to eclipse career totals of 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
 
- Senior guard Josh Williams leads the NEC in three-point field goals made per game (3.16) and ranks ninth in the RMU single-season record book for triples with 79.
 
- Robert Morris has finished first or second in the Northeast Conference in scoring defense five times in the previous eight seasons under head coach Andrew Toole. The Colonials currently rank second in the circuit in the category in 2018-19, allowing an average of 68.0 points per game and trailing only Wagner (67.6 ppg). 
 
- Head coach Andrew Toole owns the highest winning percentage (.620) 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 57-35 in games decided by five points or less, including a 2-3 (.400) mark in 2018-19.
 
- RMU opened its two-game homestand by snapping a two-game slide with a 72-59 victory over Bryant (2/7/19) at the North Athletic Complex. The Colonials used a 17-1 run in the second half to turn a four-point deficit into a 12-point lead. Junior forward Yannis Mendy led four players in double figures for Robert Morris with a career-high 14 points and also tied for game-high honors with six rebounds.
 
- Off the bench, sophomore forward Chris Coalmon scored 10 consecutive points during RMU's deciding surge and finished with career highs in both points (12) and rebounds (6). Sophomore forward Charles Bain contributed 10 points and six caroms, while sophomore guard Jon Williams scored 10 points and dished out seven assists.

MOUNT ST. MARY'S LINKS
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Game Notes (ISSUU)
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats
 
Central Connecticut Tidbits - RMU and CCSU split the 2018-19 season series, with each team winning on the other's home court ... The Blue Devils have won three of the last four meetings in which Robert Morris was the home team, while the Colonials have won five consecutive games and eight of nine at Detrick Gymnasium ... Central Connecticut posted a 41-33 edge in rebounding, with the Colonials slipping to 2-3 (.400) against NEC foes when being outrebounded ... CCSU shot 65.2 percent (15-for-23) from the field in the second half and held a 30-28 advantage in points in the paint ... RMU owned a 19-14 edge in points off turnovers as senior guard Matty McConnell set a season high with five steals ... McConnell has posted at least five steals in a game a total of eight times during his career, with Robert Morris 0-8 in those contests.
 
Climbing The Charts - Senior guard Matty McConnell will become just the ninth player in program history to appear in at least 120 games when RMU plays @ Mount St. Mary's Thursday. McConnell is currently tied for ninth all-time in games played with former guard Tony lee (2004-08) with 119 games. McConnell has started 110 career games, which is tied with Lee and former guard Forest Grant (1980-84) for fourth all-time in career starting assignments.
 
The Novice - Freshman guard Dante Treacy has settled into his role as RMU's backup point guard, and his production has started to increase as the Colonials hit the stretch run. Treacy established career highs in both points (10) and rebounds (5) against Central Connecticut (2/9/19), knocking down three of his four shots from the field, including 1-for-2 from beyond the arc, while going 3-for-4 at the free-throw line. Despite missing four games with an injury in January, Treacy enters Thursday's game @ Mount St. Mary's having shot 60 percent (9-for-15) from the field in his last six games, including 55.6 percent (5-for-9) from beyond the arc.
 
Defense and Rebounding - In RMU's eight wins against Northeast Conference foes this season, the Colonials are allowing an average of 58.5 points per game and own a rebounding margin of +7.0, grabbing an average of 36.1 rebounds per game while allowing an average of just 29.1 caroms per contest. In RMU's four losses against NEC opposition, opponents have shot 51.9 percent (111-for-214) from the field in averaging 82.5 points per game while owning a +5.2 rebounding margin (36.5 to 31.3). In NEC wins, forwards Malik Petteway and Yannis Mendy have combined to average 12.5 rebounds per game. In losses, the duo average just 7.8 rebounds a contest.
 
Did You Know? RMU is 39-16 (.709) in nine seasons under head coach Andrew Toole when finishing with at least 40 rebounds in a game, including a perfect 6-0 in 2018-19. The Colonials have won seven consecutive contests when grabbing at least 40 boards in a game dating back to last season.
 
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 157-41 (.793) when the Colonials are even or better in rebounding in a game, including a 148-35 (.809) mark when outrebounding their opponent.

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