GAME 24
Bryant (8-13, 5-5 NEC) vs. Robert Morris (12-11, 7-3 NEC)
Thursday, February 7, 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 
Twitter: @RMUMBasketball • Instagram: @RMUMBasketball
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Robert Morris University men's basketball team, which has dropped its last two games by a total of six points, opens a two-game homestand at the North Athletic Complex Thursday by hosting Bryant in a 7:00 p.m. tip.
 
- The Colonials opened their February slate by dropping their second consecutive game with a 97-94 double overtime loss @ Fairleigh Dickinson (2/2/19). Tied at the end of regulation, 75-75, the Knights held an 87-84 lead with 36 seconds to go in overtime, but freshman guard Dante Treacy sent the game to a second overtime by knocking down a three-pointer with 17 seconds left in the extra frame.
 
- FDU again held a three-point lead in the second overtime with 15 seconds to play and this time was able to secure the win as a three-pointer from senior guard Josh Williams rimmed out with three seconds remaining.
 
- Senior guard Josh Williams led Robert Morris against the Knights with 34 points. He was one of four players to score in double figures and shot 12-for-25 from the field, including 7-for-15 from beyond the arc, and 3-for4 at the free-throw line. Sophomore forward Charles Bain contributed 18 points and seven rebounds.
 
- Off the bench, senior forward Malik Petteway finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, while senior guard Matty McConnell tallied 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists before fouling out.
 
- Despite having dropped two consecutive games by three points each, 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.
 
- Robert Morris enters Thursday's game against the Bulldogs leading the Northeast Conference in scoring defense (68.0 ppg) and scoring margin (+2.3) while ranking second in the circuit in three-point field goal percent defense (.338), rebounding defense (33.5 rpg), steals (7.57 per game) and turnover margin (+1.43).
 
- Senior guard Matty McConnell leads the Northeast Conference in steals with an average of 1.78 per contest thanks to 41 steals in 23 games. RMU's active leading scorer (1,015 points) and rebounder (468), McConnell needs 32 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 Northeast Conference in three-point field goals made per game with an average of 3.35 per contest. Williams ranks 10th in the RMU single-season record book for three-pointers with 77 and thanks to his seven triples @ Fairleigh Dickinson (2/2/19) pushed his career total to 204. Williams hit 127 three-pointers in two seasons with Akron before transferring to Robert Morris. 

BRYANT LINKS
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Game Notes (ISSUU)
- Audio 
- Video 
- Live Stats
 
Fairleigh Dickinson Tidbits - RMU and FDU split the 2018-19 season series, with each team winning on its home court ... The Colonials hold a 46-33 (.582) advantage in the all-time series ...  The contest featured 16 ties and 20 lead changes, and in the two-game season series between the two teams there were 19 ties and 33 lead changes ... The Knights visited the free-throw line 40 times, converting 31, compared to 18 trips for Robert Morris ... In the two overtimes, Fairleigh Dickinson went to the chalk 17 times, converting 15, compared to a 7-for-8 performance by RMU ... The Knights scored 47 points in the first half, the most by an opponent in either half in 2018-19 ... Senior guard Josh Williams  (44), senior forward Malik Petteway  (28), sophomore forward Charles Bain  (38) and freshman guard Cameron Wilbon  (19) each set career highs in minutes played.
 
Free Basketball - RMU's double overtime game @ Fairleigh Dickinson (2/2/19) marked just the eighth time in program history the Colonials have played in two overtimes. The last occasion came Feb. 17, 2007, when St. Francis Brooklyn outlasted Robert Morris at the Charles L. Sewall Center, 102-97. The Colonials are just 2-6 (.250) in school history in contests that reach a second overtime. The last victory was an 81-76 double overtime win over LIU Brooklyn (1/8/00), also at the Sewall Center. In that contest former guard Gene Nabors (1995-2000) hit a three-pointer to give the Colonials a 74-72 lead. The Blackbirds tied it up with a pair of free throws from Antwan Dobie, but former center Matt Smith (1998-2002) followed with a dunk to give RMU the lead for good.
 
The Anatomy Of Overtime - Robert Morris has been to overtime 12 times under head coach Andrew Toole in his nine years leading the Colonials. Under Toole, Robert Morris is 7-5 (.583) in overtime, including 3-5 (.375) on the road. All-time in program history RMU has posted a record of 29-27 (.518) in overtime contests.
 
Comeback Kids - Robert Morris has made a habit of climbing out of double-digit deficits under Andrew Toole, and in a 97-94 double overtime setback @ Fairleigh Dickinson (2/2/19), the Colonials erased a double-digit deficit for the second consecutive game, only to fall short in the end (again). The Knights led, 50-38, after Darnell Edge hit a three-pointer to open the scoring in the second half, but RMU responded with a 19-3 run to grab a 57-53 advantage, setting up a game of back-and-forth the rest of the contest. Robert Morris has erased 31 double-digit deficits in nine seasons under Toole. On 24 of those occasions Robert Morris has earned a victory.
 
Director's Cut - Sophomore guard Jon Williams has been as steady as ever in running the offense in recent weeks for Robert Morris. Entering Thursday's game against Bryant, Williams has dished out an average of 5.12 assists over his last eight games. More importantly, Williams owns a sparkling 2.56 assist-to-turnover ratio during that span. Included in that stretch is the first double-digit career assist game for Williams, who passed out 10 helpers in a 72-64 victory over Sacred Heart (1/24/19). When Williams finishes with at least seven dimes in a game, RMU has posted a record of 6-2 (.750).
 
Triples Wild - Senior guard Josh Williams eclipsed 200 career three-pointers thanks to a 7-for-15 performance from deep @ Fairleigh Dickinson (2/2/19). Williams, who sank 127 triples at Akron prior to transferring to Robert Morris, has hit 77 three-pointers so far this season for the Colonials and owns 204 on his career. Williams is on pace to finish the regular season with 104 three-pointers for the Colonials, becoming just the second student-athlete in program history to knock down at least 100 three-pointers in a season.
 
Did You Know? Over the last seven games, senior guard Josh Williams is averaging 16.1 points and 2.6 assists per contest while shooting 43 percent (43-for-79) from the field, including 42.6 percent (23-for-54) from beyond the arc.
 
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