Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University men's basketball team opened its final homestand of the 2018-19 regular season Thursday by snapping a three-game losing streak with a 62-49 victory over LIU Brooklyn at the North Athletic Complex. The Colonials evened their overall record at 14-14 (.500) with the win, including 9-6 (.600) in the Northeast Conference.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Trailing at halftime, 27-22, RMU clamped down defensively, holding the Blackbirds (12-15 / 6-9 NEC) to just 22 points in the second half and forcing 12 turnovers. Overall, LIU Brooklyn suffered 17 turnovers and shot 39.6 percent (19-for-48) from the floor. Robert Morris used a 24-4 run to turn a 31-24 deficit with 18:33 remaining into a 48-35 lead with 9:10 left. Senior guard
Matty McConnell capped the surge with a pair of free throws, while freshman guard
Dante Treacy knocked down a corner three-pointer that gave RMU its first double-digit advantage, 46-35.
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"We did a good job in the first half defensively, but unfortunately we didn't make shots," head coach
Andrew Toole said. "In the second half we had really great energy on both sides of the floor. It's as sound as we've been in a long time. We were really positioned well. Active in the gaps. Rotating properly. That's who we have to be. We're not necessarily great individual defenders, we have to be a great team defensive unit. I thought tonight we really did a good job playing that way."
CLAMPING DOWN
LIU Brooklyn senior guard Raiquan Clark entered tonight's game as the leading scorer in the NEC, averaging 20.3 points per game. He had scored in double figures in 18 consecutive games but tied a season-low with just eight points against the Colonials. Clark took just five shots from the field, converting three, and was 1-for-2 at the free-throw line but suffered four turnovers.
DOWN IN A HOLE
Robert Morris shot just 26.7 percent (8-for-30) from the field in the first 20 minutes of action but knocked down an even 50 percent (15-of-30) of its shots after intermission to finish the game at 38.3 percent (23-for-60). McConnell led the way with 12 points and also added five rebounds and three assists, while Treacy reached double figures in scoring for the second consecutive home game with 10 points and added a pair of dimes.
TONES OF HOME
The Colonials picked up home victory No. 10 on the season thanks it their win over the Blackbirds, the first time RMU has reached double digits in triumphs at home since the 2014-15 campaign. It also marks the 20th time in 43 seasons as an NCAA Division I program Robert Morris has racked up at least 10 home wins. Broken down, the Colonials posted four seasons of at least 10 home victories at John Jay Center, 15 at the Charles L. Sewall Center and one at the North Athletic Complex.
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"We were in the right position for 20 minutes," senior guard
Matty McConnell said of the second half. "I think that's the most sound we've been defensively all season in one half. It's what really helped us and propelled us on that run and let us hold the lead in the second half."
ARMY RESERVE
Robert Morris received 28 points from its bench compared to six for LIU Brooklyn. In addition to the 10 points from Treacy, sophomore forward
Koby Thomas and senior forward
Malik Petteway each scored eight points while combining for 11 rebounds. Thomas also provided a late dunk and finished with a team-high six boards.
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"I'm just letting the game come to me instead of forcing it," Thomas said. "I like getting our team hyped and giving us energy. It was hard not being out there and watching them play, but at the end of the day it was a humbling experience and has made me a better teammate. I got to see the game a different way and learn new things watching from the bench."
UP NEXT
Robert Morris concludes the home portion of its regular-season slate Saturday, Feb. 23, with a 5:00 p.m. tip against St. Francis Brooklyn at the North Athletic Complex. Prior to the game the Colonials will honor their two seniors,
Matty McConnell and
Malik Petteway, for Senior Day festivities.
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