GAME 17
Wagner (4-10 / 1-2 NEC) vs. Robert Morris (7-9 / 3-0 NEC)
Saturday, January 11, 2020 • 1:00 p.m. ET
Peoples Court at the UPMC Events Center (4,000) • 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, winners of three straight and five of its last six games, continues a four-game homestand at Peoples Court at the UPMC Events Center Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. tip against Wagner.
 
- The Colonials stretched their winning streak to a season-high three games by opening their homestand with a 78-52 victory over St. Francis Brooklyn (1/9/20). Redshirt senior guard Josh Williams scored a game-high 20 points and tied a career high with eight rebounds. He shot 7-for-9 from the field, including 6-for-8 from beyond the arc.
 
- Off the bench in the victory over the Terriers, junior forward AJ Bramah tied a career high in points (16) and assists (3) while corralling five rebounds. He converted six of his eight attempts from the floor while shooting 4-for-5 at the free-throw line. Senior forward Yannis Mendy added 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the win.
 
- Robert Morris enters Saturday's tilt with Wagner leading the Northeast Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.374), assists (16.44 per game) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.21). The Colonials also rank second in the circuit in turnover margin (+1.26), three-point field goal percent defense (.309) and rebounding defense (34.7).
 
- In starting 3-0 in Northeast Conference play for the second consecutive year and fourth time under 10th-year RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach Andrew Toole, the Colonials have shot 50.8 percent (90-for-177) from the field, including 47.7 percent (31-for-65) from downtown, while posting a rebounding margin of +6.0 and averaging 19.33 assists per contest.
 
- Redshirt senior guard Josh Williams is averaging 19.0 points in the last three games while knocking down 60 percent (21-for-35) of his shots, including 71.4 percent (15-for-21) from deep. Junior forward AJ Bramah, meanwhile, has averaged 15.3 points and 9.0 rebounds during the same stretch while shooting 70.4 percent (19-for-27) from the floor.
 
- Robert Morris has posted a record of 15-5 (.750) during the month of January during the last three seasons. Overall in 10 years under RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach Andrew Toole, Robert Morris owns a mark of 52-31 (.627) in January.
 
- RMU concluded a two-game road swing through New England with a 69-58 victory @ Merrimack (1/4/20). Redshirt senior guard Josh Williams scored a game-high 17 points to pace RMU, while off the bench junior forward AJ Bramah tied a career high with 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
 
- Sophomore guard Jalen Hawkins contributed 12 points in the win over the Warriors, while senior forward Yannis Mendy and sophomore guard Dante Treacy each scored 10 points. Mendy tied for game-high honors in rebounds with eight.

WAGNER LINKS
- Game Notes
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats
 
St. Francis Brooklyn Tidbits - The game against the Terriers marked the 1,300th contest in RMU's 44-year NCAA Division I history ... The Colonials improved to 50-30 (.625) all-time against St. Francis Brooklyn, marking the first opponent Robert Morris has reached the 50-win plateau against in program history ... The Terriers shot 34.5 percent (20-for-58) from the field, a season low by an RMU opponent ... Robert Morris held a 44-28 advantage in points in the paint and also outscored St. Francis Brooklyn, 19-5, in points off turnovers ... The Colonials shot 54.2 percent (32-for-59) from the field and in four home games at their new facility, the UPMC Events Center, are averaging 80.0 points per contest ... RMU never trailed in the game and owned its biggest lead, 74-47, with 2:59 to play.
 
Brotherly Love - Junior guard Jon Williams enters Saturday's game against Wagner leading the Northeast Conference in three-point field goal percentage, having knocked down 43.9 percent (29-for-66) of his attempts from deep. Ranking one spot behind and in second place in the circuit is Jon's brother, Josh Williams, who has converted 43.1 percent (59-for-137) of his chances from international waters. Combined, the duo have shot 58 percent (40-for-69) from beyond the arc in the last six games, a stretch in which Robert Morris has posted a record of 5-1 (. 833).
 
Draw The Line - Robert Morris has held seven opponents to less than 30 percent shooting from beyond the arc this season after holding St. Francis Brookyn to a 6-for-24 performance (25%) in a 78-52 win that opened a four-game homestand. Over the last six games, opponents are shooting just 28.4 percent (38-for-134) from downtown. RMU enters Saturday's game against Wagner ranked second in the Northeast Conference in three-point field goal percent defense at 30.9 percent (99-for-320), trailing only Bryant (.300).
 
Five Against One - Redshirt senior guard Josh Williams has knocked down at least five three-pointers in back-to-back games as well as four of the last five contests after shooting 6-for-8 from deep in a 78-52 win over St. Francis Brooklyn (1/9/20). Overall this season, Williams has canned at least five three-pointers six times as well as 12 occasions in two years in a Robert Morris uniform. The Colonials are 8-4 (.667) in those contests. Over his last six games, a span in which RMU is 5-1 (.833), Williams is supplying averages of 19.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per contest while shooting 56.1 percent (37-for-66) from the field, including 60.9 percent (28-for-46) from beyond the arc.
 
The Insider - While redshirt senior guard Josh Williams has been a force from outside in recent weeks, junior forward AJ Bramah has been doing his job around the rim. For the second consecutive game Bramah tied a career high in scoring with 16 points in a 78-52 win over St. Francis Brooklyn (1/9/20), his 11th consecutive game reaching double figures. During that span, Bramah is averaging 12.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest while shooting 55.2 percent (58-for-105) from the field. Bramah enters Saturday's game against Wagner ranked sixth overall in the Northeast Conference in field goal percentage at 52.8 percent (67-for-127).
 
Defense Wins Championships - The numbers bear out that following in the footsteps of defending is victories. Thanks to a 78-52 win over St. Francis Brooklyn (1/9/20) to open a four-game homestand, RMU improved to 188-53 (.780) when holding opponents under 70 points since the beginning of the 2007-08 season. Under 10th-year head coach Andrew Toole, the Colonials owns a mark of 137-46 (.749) when turning the trick. Overall the last 13 years, Robert Morris has held its opponent to under 70 points 56.3 percent (241-of-428) of the time.

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