Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University men's basketball team concluded the home portion of its 2018-19 regular-season schedule Saturday at the North Athletic Complex by posting a 67-62 win over St. Francis Brooklyn. The Colonials crept back over .500 on the 2018-19 campaign, moving to 15-14 (.517) overall, including 10-6 (.625) in the Northeast Conference.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
For the third consecutive game RMU fell behind by double digits in the first half, and for the second straight contest the Colonials erased that deficit for a win. St. Francis Brooklyn (16-13 / 8-8 NEC) owned a 33-22 advantage in the first half and led at the break, 37-29. Robert Morris chipped away, and senior guard
Josh Williams hit three-pointers on three consecutive possessions that turned a 49-48 deficit into a 57-52 lead with 4:10 to play.
QUOTABLE
"We had a couple key plays on defense that really ignited the team's energy, and it really helped me out," senior guard
Josh Williams said. "The defense is what ignites us to pick things up. I fed off of that and was able to knock down some shots back-to-back."
COMEBACK KIDS
Rosel Hurley gave the Terriers a 42-33 advantage at the 16:35 mark of the second half with a driving layup, but Robert Morris used a 12-2 surge to officially erase its double-digit deficit and grab a 45-44 lead. Williams hit a three-pointer during the run, while senior guard
Matty McConnell converted a pair of three-point plays thanks to drives to the baskets and subsequent fouls. Honored prior to the game as part of Senior Day festivities, McConnell finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists in the win.
QUOTABLE
"It's probably something I'll remember forever," McConnell said. "I was a little frustrated in the first half because I got into foul trouble. Just like every game my teammates never lose faith in me. They just told me to keep my head high. It's nice to know on my Senior Night I can walk out of here with a win and remember that forever."
DOWNTOWN
Josh Williams garnered game-high honors in scoring with 22 points on a 7-for-13 shooting performance from the field, including 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. He also went 3-for-4 at the free-throw line. It marks the sixth time Williams has scored at least 20 points in a game this season as well as the fifth time he has connected for at least five three-pointers.
A LOT OF DUBS
Robert Morris head coach
Andrew Toole, who picked up Northeast Conference career victory No. 100 in RMU's win over LIU Brooklyn Thursday night at the North Athletic Complex, became the program's all-time leader for coaching victories with his 158th earlier this year against the Terriers. St. Francis Brooklyn is led by Glenn Braica, who is in his ninth season and has won 85 games in the NEC. Braica's assistant coach, Ron Ganulin, won 129 games as head coach of the Terriers from 1991 to 2005. Combined, tonight's game featured coaches that have won 315 games in the NEC.
QUOTABLE
"In the second half we did a much better job of setting the tone," head coach
Andrew Toole said. "On the defensive side Josh (Williams) got that started with two charges on the first two possessions of the second half, and I thought that gave us some life. I do like the fight from this team in the second half."
CLOSE AND LATE
The Colonials improved to 58-36 (.617) in nine seasons under Toole in games decided by five points or less. RMU's two games against St. Francis Brooklyn this season were decided by a total of eight points, with Robert Morris winning both. On the flip side, RMU's two games against Saint Francis U were decided by a total of six points, with the Colonials dropping both.
UP NEXT
RMU heads out on the road for its final two games of the 2018-19 regular season, beginning Thursday, Feb. 28, with a 6:00 p.m. tip against Sacred Heart at the William H. Pitt Center in Fairfield, Conn.
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