Photo Credit: Steve Woltmann / UIC
Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU men's basketball team returned to action Friday night after a two-week break, dropping a 67-53 decision to UIC at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, Ill., in Horizon League action. The Colonials slipped to 3-4 (.429) overall on the 2020-21 campaign, including 2-2 (.500) in #HLMBB play.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Senior forward
AJ Bramah went to the free-throw line with 3:55 to go in the first half and knocked down a pair to push the Colonials in front, 26-25. It helped RMU erase an early nine-point deficit, but the Flames closed the first half on a 12-2 surge to grab a 37-28 lead at the break. Michael Diggins hit a pair of big three-pointers for UIC (6-4 / 3-2 Horizon League), while the Colonials hit just one of their final attempts from the field in the first half. That bucket came courtesy of a jumper from freshman guard
Kam Farris.
CRACK THE TOP 10
Senior guard
Jon Williams moved into the top 10 all-time in program history for assists Friday against UIC. He dished out five dimes, moving into a tie for 10th-place all-time with former guard Andre Boyd (1987-91), as each own 434 dimes for their respective careers. Williams also continues to protect the rock, finishing the contest against the Flames with just one turnover. On the 2020-21 campaign, Williams owns a 5.50 assist-to-turnover thanks to 33 assists against just six miscues.
ANSWERING
Freshman guard
Trayden Williams found a streaking Bramah for a slam with 5:46 remaining that helped the Colonials trim their deficit 59-49. On the next possession for the Flames, Teyvion Kirk atoned for his turnover on the previous possession by finding Jamie Ahale on the wing, who buried a three-pointer to give UIC a 62-49 advantage. RMU called timeout but was never able to get its deficit into single digits the rest of the contest.
TEN (GOOD RECORD)
Senior forward
AJ Bramah paced the Colonials by notching his second consecutive double-double and 10th of his career in an RMU uniform by finishing with game-high totals in both points (19) and rebounds (14). Bramah is the 10th student-athlete in program history to record at least 10 double-doubles and the first since former guard Jeremy Chappell concluded his career with 10 from 2005 to 2009.
DEEP THOUGHTS
The Colonials never found their stroke from beyond the arc, finishing just 1-for-14 (7.1%) from downtown against UIC. The lone three-pointer of the contest came courtesy of Farris, which came at the 10:29 mark of the first half. Farris was fouled on the play and converted the four-point play. Overall on the contest, RMU shot just 30 percent (18-for-60) from the field.
UP NEXT
RMU concludes a two-game set with the Flames Saturday with a 6:00 p.m. tip at Credit Union 1 Arena.
Follow The Colonials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
