Moon Township, Pa. – The
Robert Morris University men's basketball team concluded a two-game homestand at Peoples Court at the UPMC Events Center Saturday by posting its third consecutive win with a 64-57 victory over Central Connecticut. The Colonials moved above .500 on the 2019-20 season with the triumph, improving to 12-11 overall, including 8-2 in the Northeast Conference.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Leading, 26-25, at halftime, the Blue Devils (2-22 / 1-10 NEC) stretched their advantage to 32-27 after a layup from Xavier Wilson. RMU responded with an 11-0 spurt to grab a 41-35 lead, with redshirt senior guard
Josh Williams tying the game with a three-pointer and sophomore guard
Jon Williams putting the Colonials on top, 38-35, with a triple of his own.
RESPONDING
Central Connecticut fought back to grab a 42-41 advantage by scoring the next seven points of the contest, including a three-pointer from Jamir Reed, who scored a game-high 19 points, to push the Blue Devils back on top. Robert Morris answered on its next possession, as a three-pointer from the wing courtesy of senior guard
Sayveon McEwen with 11:42 remaining gave the Colonials the lead for good.
QUOTABLE
"Very fortunate to get the win," RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach
Andrew Toole said. "I thought our defense throughout the game was really good. Offensively we looked a little disjointed and out of place. Again, our defense and rebounding led to the victory."
91 (NO ASTERIK)
Junior guard
Jon Williams established a new Robert Morris record for consecutive starts with his 91st Saturday against the Blue Devils. He has been a member of the starting lineup in each of his 91 career contests and finished the game with nine points and five assists as the Colonials received balanced scoring in the victory. Williams broke the record of former guard Tony Lee (2004-08) and former forward AJ Jackson (2003-08), as both started the final 90 games of their career with the Colonials.
QUOTABLE
"It's a tribute to his consistency and how he works," Toole said about
Jon Williams. "He's a guy who sometimes goes under the radar because his stats don't always wow you. He's just doing all the right stuff. For coaches, those are the guys that help you sleep at night. You know that every decision he makes is with the best intention of the team involved. He's one of the most coachable guys. Jon is as mature a guy we've had in the program, and he's been that way since day one."
LEADING THE WAY
Junior forward
AJ Bramah and senior forward
Yannis Mendy each scored 11 points in the victory to pace RMU. Bramah pushed his double-figure scoring streak to 18 and recorded his third consecutive double-double with 14 rebounds. Sophomore guard
Jalen Hawkins and McEwen each added nine points as the Colonials shot 57.1 percent (12-for-21) from the field in the second half.
QUOTABLE
"It's about going out there and playing hard," Bramah said. "My teammates do a good of putting me in the right position to score and rebound, and I just go out there and play with energy and passion."
UP NEXT
Robert Morris takes to the road for its next three, beginning Thursday, Feb. 6, with a 7:00 p.m. tip against Wagner on Staten Island, N.Y., at the Spiro Sports Center. The Colonials will also visit Sacred Heart (Feb. 8) and Mount St. Mary's (Feb. 13) during their trip.
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