GAME 18
Merrimack (10-8 / 4-1 NEC) vs. Robert Morris (8-9 / 4-0 NEC)
Saturday, January 18, 2020 • 4:00 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 four straight and six of its last seven games, continues a four-game homestand at Peoples Court at the UPMC Events Center Saturday with a 4:00 p.m. tip against Merrimack.
 
- RMU is looking to open its Northeast Conference season 5-0 for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign and fourth time overall in program history. The best start in program history in conference play is 7-0 in 2013-14.
 
- The Colonials extended their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 94-62 victory over Wagner (1/11/20) at the UPMC Events Center. Robert Morris shot 55.9 percent (33-for-59) from the field, including 48.4 percent (15-for-31) from beyond the arc, and established a season-high in three-point field goals in the win.
 
- Redshirt senior guard Josh Williams tied for game-high honors in scoring in the win over the Seahawks with 21 points. He was one of four Colonials to score in double figures and shot 7-for-10 from beyond the arc while also recording five rebounds and five assists.
 
- Off the bench in the win over Wagner, junior forward AJ Bramah tied a career high in scoring for the third consecutive game with 16 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Dante Treacy also tied a career high in scoring with 14 points against the Seahawks while dishing out six assists, and senior forward Yannis Mendy contributed 13 points, four rebounds and two blocks.
 
- Redshirt senior guard Josh Williams was named the NEC Player of the Week (1/13/20) after averaging 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 in two home victories last week. He shot 70 percent (14-for-20) from the filed, including 72.2 percent (13-for-18) from deep, in wins over St. Francis Brooklyn (1/9/20) and Wagner (1/11/20). It marked the second weekly honor of his career and first since Nov. 19, 2018. 
 
- Robert Morris enters Saturday's tilt with Merrimack leading the Northeast Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.382), assists (16.82 per game) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.27). The Colonials also rank second in the circuit in turnover margin (+2.00), three-point field goal percent defense (.310) and rebounding defense (34.8).
 
- In starting 4-0 in NEC play, the Colonials lead the circuit against league foes in scoring margin (+20.0), field goal percentage (.521), field goal percent defense (.418), three-point field goal percentage (.479), assists (20.25 per game), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.72) and three-point field goals made per game (11.50). 
 
- Redshirt senior guard Josh Williams leads the NEC in three-point field goals made per game (3.88) and three-point field goal percentage (.449), totals that rank fifth and 12th, respectively, in NCAA Division I.

MERRIMACK LINKS
- Game Notes
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats
 
Wagner Tidbits - Robert Morris stretched its winning streak against the Seahawks to three and improved to 45-33 (.577) all-time against Wagner, including 30-9 (.769) at home ... The Colonials shot 61.8 percent (21-for-34) from the field in the second half and 55.9 percent (33-for-59) overall ... RMU dished out 23 assists against just eight turnovers, an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.88 ... Combined, guards Dante Treacy (6), Josh Williams (5) and Jon Williams (4) posted 15 dimes against two turnovers in the victory ... Robert Morris owned a 34-26 edge in points in the paint and a 22-6 advantage in points off turnovers ... Wagner outrebounded RMU, 36-31, with the Seahawks owning a 13-6 advantage on the offensive glass.
 
Open Range - Robert Morris is 4-1 (.800) in its new home facility, Peoples Court at the UPMC Events Center, and has taken well to its new surroundings. In five games at home, the Colonials are averaging 82.8 points per game while shooting 48.9 percent (154-for-315) from the field, including 41.9 percent (57-for-136) from beyond the arc. Leading the way has been Josh Williams, who is averaging 19.6 points at home while shooting 56.9 percent (33-for-58) from the field, including 55.6 percent (25-for-45) from deep.
 
Brotherly Love - Redshirt senior guard Josh Williams enters Saturday's game leading the Northeast Conference in three-point field goal percentage, having knocked down 44.9 percent (66-for-147) of his attempts from deep. Ranking one spot behind and in second place in the circuit is Josh's brother, Jon Williams, who has converted 44.3 percent (31-for-70) of his chances from international waters. Combined, the duo have shot 59 percent (49-for-83) from beyond the arc in the last seven games, a stretch in which Robert Morris has posted a record of 6-1 (.857).
 
One, Two Times Two - While guards Josh Williams and Jon Williams rank first and second, respectively, in the NEC in three-point field goal percentage, the same can be said of Jon Williams and sophomore guard Dante Treacy in assist-to-turnover ratio. Jon Williams leads the conference with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.30, while Treacy ranks second at 2.20. Over the last seven games, a stretch in which Robert Morris has posted a record of 6-1 (.857), Jon Williams and Treacy have combined for 67 assists (9.57 per game) against 23 assists, an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.91.
 
Downtown - No member of the Colonials has been as efficient shooting the basketball in recent weeks than redshirt senior guard Josh Williams. He enters Saturday's game having hit at least five three-pointers in three consecutive games as well as five of his last six contests. Williams owns a streak of seven consecutive games scoring in double figures. During that span, he has averaged 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 57.1 percent (44-for-77) from the field, including 62.5 percent (35-for-56) from deep.
 
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 third consecutive game Bramah tied a career high in scoring with 16 points in a 94-62 win over Wagner (1/11/20), his 12th consecutive game reaching double figures. During that span, Bramah is averaging 13.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest while shooting 58 percent (58-for-100) from the field. Bramah enters Saturday's game having shot 73.3 percent (22-for-30) from the field against NEC foes, which is tops in the conference.
 
Start Me Up - Junior guard Jon Williams owns RMU's active streaks for games played and starts, both of which are at 85 games entering Saturday's game. Williams tied former forward Chaz McCrommon (2000-05) for fourth in program history for consecutive starts after being in the starting lineup for a 94-62 win over Wagner (1/11/20). Across NCAA Division I, the 85 consecutive starts ranks third in the junior class, trailing Matt Coleman III (87) from Texas and Taveion Hollingsworth of Western Kentucky (89). The Robert Morris record for consecutive starting assignments is 90, which is held by former guard Tony Lee (2005-08) and former forward A.J. Jackson (2003-08).
 
From Deep - Robert Morris has hit at least five three-pointers in each of its 17 games of the 2019-20 season after establishing a season-high for triples with 15 in a 94-62 triumph over Wagner (1/11/20) at the UPMC Events Center. Dating to last season, the Colonials have connected for at least five three-pointers in each of their last 28 games, eclipsing 10 in a game on nine occasions during that stretch. RMU is 49-18 (.731) under Andrew Toole when hitting at least 10 three-pointers in a game and enters Saturday's game ranked third in the Northeast Conference with an average of 9.47 three-pointers per contest.

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