Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU men's basketball team opened its 47th season of NCAA Division I basketball Monday, falling to Ohio State, 91-53, at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Buckeyes jumped out to a 7-2 advantage in the opening minutes of the contest before a 5-2 burst for RMU made it a 9-7 game at the first media timeout of the season. Fifth-year forward
Kahliel Spear scored three points, including a dunk, while the Colonials also got a jumper from junior guard
Enoch Cheeks. Isaac Likekele hit a jumper to give OSU some breathing room before RMU hung an 8-2 run on the Buckeyes to grab a 15-13 advantage. Junior forward
Matt Mayers hit a pair of free throws to begin the surge, while Cheeks drilled a three-pointer and Spear a jumper to push the Colonials in front.
ON THE MOVE
Zed Key knocked down one of OSU's 10 three-pointers in the contest to push the Buckeyes back in front, 16-15, which ignited an 18-6 run. Ohio State also got triples from Roddy Gayle, Jr., and Justice Sueing in building its first double-digit advantage, 31-21. The Colonials eventually trailed, 42-28, at the break despite 12 points from Cheeks in the opening 20 minutes.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
Forward
Stephaun Walker joined an exclusive list Monday against the Buckeyes, becoming the 12th true freshman in program history to start their collegiate debut when he was a member of the starting five against the Buckeyes. Included in that list are eight Colonials who have started their first game as a true freshman under RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach
Andrew Toole. Walker finished with 10 points while also tying for team-high honors in rebounds with six. Walker is the first rookie to start in his collegiate debut for RMU since 2020, when Cheeks started in a 75-57 victory over Point Park (12/5/21) at the UPMC Events Center. Three of the last four Colonials to earn a start in their first NCAA Division I game as a true freshman did so at Value City Arena against Ohio State, as in 2017 former Colonials Jon Williams (2017-21) and Koby Thomas (2017-19) each started against the Buckeyes.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Cheeks finished with 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting in the season opener, including a 3-for-7 performance from beyond the arc. He also added two rebounds and a block. Sueing was one of four Buckeyes to finish in double figures with 20 points while also adding two assists, three steals and a block. Ohio State also got a double-double from Key with 13 points and 10 caroms.
UP NEXT
RMU returns home to the UPMC Events Center for its next two games. The Colonials welcome Pitt Greensburg Wednesday, Nov. 9, for a 7:00 p.m. tip to open the home portion of their 2022-23 slate.
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