GAME 25
Central Connecticut (10-14, 4-7 NEC) vs. RMU (13-11, 8-3 NEC)
Saturday, February 9, 2019 • 4:00 p.m.
North Athletic Complex (1,000) • Moon Township, Pa.
 
Radio: ESPN 970 AM & 106.3 FM
Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp) & Jim Elias (color)
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Paul Dottino (pxp) & Joe DeSantis (color) 
Twitter: @RMUMBasketball • Instagram: @RMUMBasketball
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Robert Morris University men's basketball team closes out a two-game homestand at the North Athletic Complex Saturday with a 4:00 p.m. tip against Central Connecticut in a game that can be seen live on ESPN+.
 
- 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.
 
- Robert Morris enters Saturday's game against the Blue Devils leading the Northeast Conference in scoring defense (67.6 ppg) and scoring margin (+2.8) while ranking second in the circuit in rebounding defense (33.2 rpg), assists (14.42 per game) steals (7.46 per game) and turnover margin (+1.38).
 
- Senior guard Matty McConnell leads the Northeast Conference in steals with an average of 1.75 per contest thanks to 42 steals in 24 games. RMU's active leading scorer (1,019 points) and rebounder (473), McConnell needs 27 caroms to become the 14th player in program history to eclipse career totals of 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
 
- 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.
 
- 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.

CENTRAL CONNECTICUT LINKS
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Game Notes (ISSUU)
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats
 
Bryant Tidbits - Robert Morris swept the 2018-19 season series from the Bulldogs and has now won four consecutive games in the all-time series ... Overall in program history the Colonials are 16-4 (.800) against Bryant ... RMU shot just 28.6 percent (8-for-28) from the field in the first half, including 7.7 percent (1-for-13) from deep, but rebounded to convert 63.3 percent (19-for-30) of its shots after halftime ... The Colonials held a 31-19 advantage in bench points and also outscored Bryant, 14-8, in second-chance points ... RMU's 20 assists against the Bulldogs are a season high against an NCAA Division I opponent ... Robert Morris outrebounded Bryant, 43-26, including an advantage of 18-7 on the offensive glass.
 
Mendy In The Middle - Junior forward Yannis Mendy has been a key component for RMU against Northeast Conference foes this season, and that was on full display in a 72-59 victory over Bryant (2/7/19) that helped the Colonials snap a two-game slide. Mendy paced the Colonials against the Bulldogs with a career-high 14 points and also tied for team-high honors with six rebounds. Against Bryant, Mendy converted seven of his eight attempts from the floor.  Mendy enters Saturday's game against Central Connecticut ranked fourth in the NEC in field goal percentage against league opposition at 61.9 percent (39-for-63). Over his last seven games, Mendy has been extremely efficient, knocking down 67.6 percent (25-for-37) of his attempts from the floor in averaging 8.4 points per contest.
 
Ignition - Chris Coalmon picked a good time to break out for the Colonials offensively. RMU trailed Bryant (2/7/19), 47-43, with just under 10 minutes to play when the sophomore forward exploded for 10 consecutive points as part of a 17-1 run that helped Robert Morris take control in an eventual 72-59 victory. Coalmon finished with career highs in both points (12) and rebounds (6) and shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, including 1-for-1 from beyond the arc, while knocking down his only attempt at the free-throw line. Against Northeast Conference opponents this season, Coalmon has been almost automatic from the field. He's shooting 61.5 percent (16-for-26) from the floor, including 83.3 percent (5-for-6) from beyond the arc, and 77.8 percent (7-for-9) at the free-throw line in averaging 4.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest.
 
Paint By Numbers - The exploits of junior forward Yannis Mendy and sophomore forward Chris Coalmon in RMU's 72-59 win over Bryant (2/7/19) is emblematic of the Colonials attacking the rim against Northeast Conference foes. Against the Bulldogs, Robert Morris scored 38 points in the paint, a season high against an NCAA Division I opponent. It also marked the eighth time in 11 league games RMU has scored at least 30 points in the paint. In those contests the Colonials have posted a record of 6-2 (.750). Against NEC opposition, Robert Morris is averaging 29.8 points in the paint per game.
 
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.
 
Director's Cut - Sophomore guard Jon Williams has been as steady as ever in running the offense in recent weeks for Robert Morris. Entering Saturday's game against Central Connecticut, Williams has dished out an average of 5.33 assists over his last nine games. More importantly, Williams owns a sparkling 2.40 assist-to-turnover ratio during that span. Included in that stretch is the first career double-digit 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 7-2 (.778).
 
Defensively Speaking - Robert Morris has won 17 consecutive games when holding opponents to less than 60 points dating back to the 2016-17 season after a 72-59 victory over Bryant (2/7/19) at the North Athletic Complex. In nine years under Andrew Toole, the Colonials are 64-7 (.901) when turning the trick, including a perfect 9-0 mark in 2018-19. The last loss for RMU when yielding under 60 points was a 48-47 setback @ Mount St. Mary's (1/26/17).
 
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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