GAME 1
RMU (0-0) @ Central Florida (0-0)
Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 • 7:00 p.m.
Addition Financial Arena (10,000) • Orlando, Fla.
 
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Austin Lyon (pxp) & Michael O'Donnell (color)
Audio: RMU Athletics Gameday App
Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp)
Twitter: @RMUMBasketball • Instagram: RMUMBasketball
 
Opening Tip
 
- The RMU men's basketball team opens its 2021-22 campaign and 46th season of NCAA Division I basketball Wednesday with a 7:00 p.m. tip in Orlando, Fla., against Central Florida at Addition Financial Arena.
 
- Led by 12th-year RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach Andrew Toole, the Colonials return two starters and three letterwinners in 2021-22, including sophomore guard Kam Farris and senior forward Kahliel Spear. The duo combined to score 319 points in 2020-21.
 
- The Colonials enter the 2021-22 season returning 28.6 percent (393-of-1,374) of their scoring, 26.2 percent (169-of-646) of their rebounding and 15.7 percent (47-of-299) of their assists.
 
- Entering Wednesday's game @ Central Florida, the Colonials have posted a record of 21-24 (.467) all-time in season openers, including a mark of 4-7 (.364) under RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach Andrew Toole.
 
- Senior forward Kahliel Spear, a transfer from Bucknell, averaged 9.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 18 games for RMU last year, including 10 starts. He ranked fourth in the Horizon League with an average of 1.28 blocks per game, recording 23 rejections on the season.
 
- Sophomore guard Kam Farris scored at an 8.3 points per game clip in 2020-21, knocking down 46.1 percent (35-for-76) of his attempts from beyond the three-point line. He scored in double figures five times.
 
- A total of nine new Colonials are part of the 2021-22 roster for RMU, including graduate transfers Rasheem Dunn and Ferron Flavors, Jr. Dunn, a transfer from St. John's who began his career at St. Francis Brooklyn, enters the 2021-22 season having scored 1,407 career points at the NCAA Division I level.
 
- Flavors, Jr., a transfer from Oklahoma State who has also spent time at the NCAA Division I level at Fairfield and Cal Baptist, enters the 2021-22 campaign with career totals of 905 points and 207 three-pointers. During the 2019-20 season at Cal Baptist, Flavors, Jr., led the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in three-point field goal percentage (.439) and three-point field goals made per game (3.00).
 
- Five other transfers join the Colonials for the 2021-22 season, including forwards Jaron Williams (UT Martin), Justin Winston (St. Bonaventure), Mattia Acunzo (Toledo) and Brandon Stone (La Salle) and guard Michael Green III (Bryant).
 
- RMU takes part in the Kentucky Classic after taking on the Knights Wednesday, beginning with a 7:00 p.m. tip Friday, Nov. 12, at Rupp Arena against Kentucky. The Colonials will also travel to Ohio (11/15) and host Mount St. Mary's (11/19) as part of the tournament.

CENTRAL FLORIDA LINKS
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats
- RMU Athletics Gameday App
 
The All-Time Series (Central Florida) - The Colonials and Knights are meeting for the first time on the hardwood Wednesday. Central Florida is one of five opponents on RMU's schedule in 2021-22 the Colonials are facing for the first time this season, joining Davidson, Green Bay, Lancaster Bible and IUPUI.
 
Minute By Minute - RMU gets set for its first full non-conference schedule in two years this fall with a bevy of new faces dotting the roster. The Colonials return just three letterwinners, which accounts for 26.3 percent (1,038-of-3,950) of minutes played from last season that will take the court in 2021-22. That total ranks among the top 25 among NCAA Division I institutions for fewest returning minutes this season. UT Martin returns none of its minutes from a year ago, while University of Portland returns 8.5 percent of its minutes. Senior forward Kahliel Spear is RMU's top returner in terms of minutes played, having averaged 23.6 minutes per game last season.
 
Defense Wins Championships - The numbers bear out that following in the footsteps of defending is victories. Thanks to a 67-64 win over Milwaukee (1/1/21) in RMU's first home game at the UPMC Events Center as a member of the Horizon League, the Colonials improved to 202-56 (.783) when holding opponents under 70 points since the beginning of the 2007-08 season. Under 12th-year head coach Andrew Toole, the Colonials own a mark of 151-49 (.755) when turning the trick. Overall the last 15 years, RMU has held its opponent to under 70 points 55.5 percent (258-of-465) of the time.
 
Did You Know? RMU is 55-21 (.724) in 12 seasons under RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach Andrew Toole when hitting at least 10 three-pointers in a game. The Colonials knocked down a season-high 13 triples in a 102-88 victory @ Purdue Fort Wayne (12/26/20) in its first game as a member of the Horizon League and finished 2-2 (.500) last season when hitting at least 10 three-pointers in a contest.
 
Close and Late - A common theme in the 12 years that RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach Andrew Toole has been at the helm of the program has been playing close games late. During Toole's tenure, the Colonials have posted a record of 66-47 (.584) in games decided by five points or less, including a mark of 9-7 (.563) in games decided by just a single point.
 
Board Games - Part of following the formula in regard to being successful for RMU over the last 15 seasons has been the program's ability to crash the boards. Since the beginning of the 2007-08 campaign, RMU owns a record of 175-50 (.778) when the Colonials are even or better in rebounding in a game, including a 166-43 (.794) mark when outrebounding their opponent.

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