Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU men's basketball team concluded a two-game road trip Sunday, falling to Cleveland State, 75-68, at the Wolstein Center. The Colonials fell to 3-16 (.158) overall during the 2021-22 campaign, including 1-9 (.100) in the Horizon League.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Junior guard
Michael Green III knocked down a three-pointer with 8:37 remaining that gave the Colonials a 58-55 advantage, but RMU went cold offensively, not converting a field goal again until there was 27 seconds to play courtesy of a dunk from junior forward
Brandon Stone. The Vikings used a 15-4 run to take control and grab a 70-62 lead. Torrey Patton converted in the lane to push CSU in front, 59-58, and Broc Finstuen followed with consecutive layups for the Vikings. Cleveland State (13-4 / 9-1 #HLMBB) also took advantage of its attempts at the free-throw line down the stretch, converting 10 of its 14 chances in the final 4:47 of action.
GETTING TO THE LINE
The Vikings went to the free-throw line 37 times Sunday, converting 23 (62.2%). Already missing sophomore guard
Kam Farris from the lineup, the fouls piled up for RMU, with sophomore guard
Enoch Cheeks fouling out at the 3:45 mark of the second half. In addition, three other Colonials notched four fouls during the game, while senior forward
Kahliel Spear went to the locker room with an injury before returning.
QUOTABLE
"Even if we're fully healthy, you have to give credit to what Cleveland State does," RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach
Andrew Toole said. "Everyone contributes in a positive way and has an impact on the game. It's why they're the defending champions. They just keep playing and continue to do what they do. Eventually we showed some cracks, especially in ball security, and it made it a challenge to get over the top. We got worn down a bit by their physicality and their size. Our guys are obviously frustrated but, again, we have to be so in tune and locked in to the little details. If we don't, teams take advantage of you."
UNFORCED ERRORS
The Colonials finished with 19 turnovers against the Vikings, 10 more than the hosts. Cleveland State used that to its advantage, outscoring RMU, 18-10, in points off the miscues. It negated a solid start for the Colonials, who owned a 35-30 advantage at halftime and grabbed its biggest cushion early in the second half after junior forward
Jaron Williams converted a three-point play with a layup while drawing a foul by Deonte Johnson.
QUOTABLE
"If we get good shots and we don't make them, that's one thing," Toole said. "Tonight I thought we did a better job in playing with purpose and making sure we were connected. When you're intentional about doing the right thing, that's what is going to give you a chance at the end. We had that chance tonight. We just have to keep trying to fight to get better. We also have to have some imagination in our practices. The mindset that we need begins there, and that's where good habits are formed."
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Off the bench for the Colonials, Stone led RMU with a season-high 14 points as one of four student-athletes to score in double figures. He shot 5-for-7 from the field, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, and was true on both of his attempts at the chalk. Green III and Cheeks each contributed 13 points and four assists for RMU, with Cheeks adding seven rebounds before fouling out, and Williams posted 11 points and six boards. Spear had his streak of double-figure scoring games snapped at seven by scoring four points but notched a game-high 11 rebounds. The Colonials dominated the glass, 44-27, including a 19-10 edge in offensive rebounds.
UP NEXT
RMU returns home to the UPMC Events Center to close out the month of January. The Colonials will host Milwaukee Thursday, Jan. 27, for a 7:00 p.m. tip before concluding the season series with Green Bay Saturday, Jan. 29.
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