GAME 34
Cornell (15-15) vs. Robert Morris (17-16)
2019 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT)
Tuesday, March 19, 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: WatchCIT.com
Twitter: @RMUMBasketball • Instagram: @RMUMBasketball
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Robert Morris University men's basketball team makes its second appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) in program history and first since 2012 when it hosts Cornell in the first round in a 7:00 p.m. tip Tuesday at the North Athletic Complex.
 
- In its first appearance in the CIT in 2012, RMU advanced to the quarterfinals thanks to road victories @ Indiana State (3/13/12), 67-60, and @ Toledo (3/17/12), 69-51, before falling @ Fairfield (3/21/12), 67-61. Former guard Coron Williams (2009-13) averaged 12.0 points per game in the 2012 CIT to pace the Colonials.  
 
- Robert Morris fell in the semifinals of the 2019 Northeast Conference Tournament with a 66-62 setback @ Fairleigh Dickinson (3/9/19). Senior guard Matty McConnell led the way for the Colonials with 17 points and added four assists and a pair of steals. Sophomore forward Charles Bain contributed 10 points and three rebounds.
 
- Senior guard Matty McConnell was named to the 2019 All-NEC Tournament Team after averaging 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals in two games. He shot 40 percent (12-for-30) from the field, including 40 percent (4-for-10) from beyond the arc, and was a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line.
 
- Robert Morris has finished first or second in the NEC in scoring defense five times in the previous eight seasons under head coach Andrew Toole. The Colonials enter the 2019 CIT leading the circuit in 2018-19, allowing an average of 67.8 points per game. RMU also paces the NEC in rebounding defense, allowing an average of 33.0 rebounds per contest.
 
- Senior guard Josh Williams was named to the 2019 All-NEC Third Team in a vote of league head coaches and enters the 2019 CIT leading RMU in scoring at 13.9 points per game. He has knocked down 96 three-pointers in 2018-19, which ranks second in the Robert Morris single-season record book.
 
- Senior guard Matty McConnell is RMU's active leader in points (1,119), rebounds (510), assists (301) and steals (234). He eclipsed 300 career assists thanks to four dimes in the semifinals of the 2019 NEC Tournament @ Fairleigh Dickinson (3/9/19). McConnell is one of just three players in program history to eclipse career totals of 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 200 steals, joining former guards Tony Lee (2004-08) and Jeremy Chappell (2005-09).
 
- Head coach Andrew Toole owns the highest winning percentage (.615) 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 59-37 in games decided by five points or less, including a mark of 4-5 (.444) in 2018-19.

CORNELL LINKS
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Game Notes (ISSUU)
- Audio 
- Video
- Live Stats
 
Fairleigh Dickinson Tidbits - RMU finished 1-2 (.333) against the Knights in 2018-19 but still leads the all-time series, 46-34 (.575) ... By falling in the semifinals of the 2019 Tournament @ Fairleigh Dickinson, it marks the first time the Knights have posted back-to-back wins against the Colonials since 2006 ... FDU held a 29-23 edge in rebounding, but Robert Morris owned a 12-9 advantage on the offensive glass ... The Colonials outscored the Knights, 28-14, in points in the paint and 25-11 in points off turnovers ... Fairleigh Dickinson finished 22-for-27 (81.5%) at the free-throw line compared to 6-for-8 (75%) for RMU ... In two games at Stratis Arena against FDU in 2018-19, the Knights visited the free-throw line 67 times compared to 26 occasions for Robert Morris.
 
The NEC Tournament - Senior guard Matty McConnell concluded his career by scoring 113 career points in seven Northeast Conference Tournament games, an average of 16.1 points per contest. He ranks seventh in career points in the NEC Tournament for Robert Morris, while his scoring average ranks third. Overall in the NEC Tournament, McConnell compiled shooting numbers of 46.5 percent (38-for-80) from the field, including 46.7 percent (21-for-45) from beyond the arc, and 78.3 percent (18-for-23) at the free-throw line. McConnell's success rate from beyond the arc ranks fifth in school history for RMU.
 
Born In The Shadows - One member of the Colonials who should be looking forward to continuing to play in 2018-19 is sophomore forward Charles Bain. Bain enters the 2019 CIT having scored in double figures in each of his last four games, averaging 12.5 points per game over that span while connecting on 58.1 percent (18-for-31) of his shots from the field, including 53.3 percent (8-for-15) from beyond the arc. Bain has scored in double figures in eight of his last 11 games dating to the beginning of February and also has hit at least one three-pointer in nine consecutive games. Bain enters the 2019 CIT having shot 46.7 percent (121-for-259) from the field in 2018-19, which ranks 15th in the NEC.
 
Point Break - Another classmate that should be looking forward to the 2019 CIT for Robert Morris is sophomore guard Jon Williams. Over his last eight games, Williams has knocked down 58.3 percent (14-for-24) of his attempts from beyond the arc. During that same time frame, Williams has also dished out 27 assists (3.38 per game) while suffering 18 turnovers, an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.50.
 
The All-Time Wins Leader - RMU head coach Andrew Toole picked up career victory No. 158 thanks to a 52-49 win @ St. Francis Brooklyn (1/10/19) that opened a four-game road trip. Thanks to the victory, Toole, who is in his ninth season at the helm leading the Colonials in 2018-19, surpassed former head coach Jarrett Durham for most victories in Robert Morris men's basketball history. Durham posted an overall record of 157-183 (.462) from 1984 to 1996. Toole owns an overall record of 167-139 (.546), including a mark of 102-58 (.638) against league foes.

Defensively Speaking - Robert Morris has won 18 consecutive games when holding opponents to less than 60 points dating back to the 2016-17 season after a 62-49 victory over LIU Brooklyn (2/21/19) at the North Athletic Complex. In nine years under Andrew Toole, the Colonials are 65-7 (.903) when turning the trick, including a perfect 10-0 mark in 2018-19.

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