GAME 27
IUPUI (2-22 / 0-13 #HLMBB) vs. RMU (7-19 / 5-12 #HLMBB)
Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 • 7:00 p.m.
UPMC Events Center (4,000) • Moon Township, Pa.
 
TV: ESPN+ / 22 The Point / MeTV Ohio Valley
Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp) & Jim Elias (color)
Audio: RMU Athletics Gameday App
Talent: Chris Shovlin (pxp) & Jim Elias (color)
Twitter: @RMUMBasketball • Instagram: RMUMBasketball
 
Opening Tip
 
- The RMU men's basketball team concludes the home portion of its 2021-22 regular season schedule this week with a pair of games at the UPMC Events Center. The Colonials begin by welcoming IUPUI for a 7:00 p.m. tip Thursday.
 
- RMU is looking to post back-to-back wins for the second time this season after earning its second consecutive road victory, a 73-68 triumph @ Youngstown State (2/13/22). The Colonials used a 12-0 run to turn a 64-54 deficit into a 66-64 lead en route to the win.
 
- Senior forward Kahliel Spear led the way against the Penguins with a career-high 27 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the field, including 3-for-3 from deep, and a 4-for-5 performance at the free-throw line. He also added seven rebounds and a pair of blocks.
 
- Spear enters Thursday's game against the Jaguars leading the Horizon League in field goal percentage at 55.5 percent (152-for-274). In his two seasons in an RMU uniform after transferring from Bucknell, Spear has shot 55.2 percent (222-for-402) from the floor.
 
- Junior guard Michael Green III added 14 points and five assists in the victory @ Youngstown State, while junior forward Matt Mayers contributed 11 points and seven boards. Sophomore guard Kam Farris came off the bench to supply 10 points while also notching two assists and a block.
 
- In their last game at the UPMC Events Center, the Colonials dropped a 71-68 decision to Oakland (2/11/22). RMU is 1-6 (.125) at home this season in games decided by six points or less after the setback to the Golden Grizzlies.
 
- Junior forward Brandon Stone tied a career high with 17 points to pace the Colonials against Oakland and also added eight rebounds, a steal and a block. Stone shot 7-for-8 from the field, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.
 
- Senior forward Kahliel Spear notched his seventh double-double of the 2021-22 campaign with 14 points and 11 rebounds against the Golden Grizzlies while also dishing out a career-high five assists, and junior forward Matt Mayers chipped in 11 points and six caroms.
 
- In 12 games at the UPMC Events Center during the 2021-22 season, senior forward Kahliel Spear is leading RMU with averages of 16.5 points and 7.8 rebounds while knocking down 66.7 percent (82-for-123) of his shots from the field. He has also registered 19 blocks (1.58 per contest).
 
- As a team, the Colonials are holding opponents to an average of 69.2 points per game at home this season and own a scoring margin of +3.0. Foes have shot 42 percent (288-for-686) from the floor at the UPMC Events Center in 2021-22, including just 31 percent (81-for-261) from beyond the arc.

IUPUI LINKS
- Game Notes (PDF)
- Audio
- Video
- Live Stats
- RMU Athletics Gameday App
- Tickets
 
The All-Time Series (IUPUI) – RMU and IUPUI meet for the second time on the hardwood Thursday at the UPMC Events Center. In the first meeting between the two programs earlier this month at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum (2/5/22), the Colonials earned a 66-49 triumph over IUPUI. RMU used a 12-2 run to open the second half to grab a 40-29 advantage en route to the win. Senior forward Kahliel Spear and sophomore guard Enoch Cheeks combined for 31 points and 19 rebounds, with Spear notching 17 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Youngstown State Notes – The all-time series between the Colonials and Penguins is tied, 12-12 (.500), after RMU's win on the road ... RMU improved to 6-5 (.545) all-time at the Beeghly Center with the victory ... Senior forward Kahliel Spear drained a three-pointer and also converted a three-point play during a 12-0 run that helped RMU erase a double-digit deficit ... The RMU frontcourt shot 77.2 percent (17-for-22) from the field in the victory ... YSU held a 31-27 advantage on the glass, including a 14-6 edge in offensive rebounds ... The Colonials shot 63 percent (17-for-27) from the field in the second half and 53.1 percent (26-for-49) overall in the victory, their highest field goal percentage on the road this season.
 
Moving On Up - Thanks to a pair of blocks in a 73-68 win @ Youngstown State (2/13/22), senior forward Kahliel Spear became the seventh student-athlete in program history to eclipse 30 blocks in a season. Thanks to 31 on the 2021-22 campaign, Spear sits in a tie for seventh in the RMU single-season record book with former guard Forest Grant (1980-84), who rejected 31 shots during the 1981-82 season. Spear has compiled 54 blocks in 44 career games (1.23 per contest) with the Colonials and in 90 games at the NCAA Division I level owns 84 rejections.
 
Ten - RMU enters its final homestand of the 2021-22 campaign at the UPMC Events Center Thursday against IUPUI owning a record of 5-5 (.500) in its last 10 games. The margin has been razor thing during that stretch, as the Colonials are averaging 68.7 points per game while holding opponents to an average of 68.5 points per contest (+0.2). Junior Michael Green III has been a driving force for RMU during that span, providing the ability to score and distribute as the primary point guard. Over his last 10 games, Green III is averaging 12.6 points and 4.0 assists per game but more importantly owns an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.11.
 
February Fire - A consistent presence for RMU in 2022, senior forward Kahliel Spear has taken his game to the next level thus far in February. Through the first five games of the month, Spear is averaging 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest. Spear eclipsed 500 career points in an RMU uniform thanks to 15 points against Detroit Mercy (2/9/22) and has scored 552 points in 44 career games (12.5 ppg) in two seasons with the Colonials. A career 55.2 percent (222-for-402) shooter during his time at RMU, Spear ranks third all-time in program history in field goal percentage. An economics major who has maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.92, Spear is also RMU's active leader for both consecutive games played (44) and starts (31).
 
Defense Wins Championships - The numbers bear out that following in the footsteps of defending is victories. Over the last 15 years, RMU owns a record of 208-58 (.782) when holding opponents under 70 points since the beginning of the 2007-08 season. Thanks to a 73-68 triumph @ Youngstown State (2/13/22), the Colonials improved to 158-51 (.756) under 12th-year RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach Andrew Toole when turning the trick. Overall in the last 15 years, RMU has held its opponent to under 70 points 54.4 percent (267-of-491) of the time.
 
Did You Know? Thanks to a 66-49 win @ IUPUI (2/5/22) that concluded a two-game road trip, RMU improved to 3-0 this season when holding opponents to under 60 points. The Colonials have won nine consecutive games dating back to the 2019-20 season when turning the trick. Overall under 12th-year RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach Andrew Toole, the Colonials are 77-8 (.906) when holding opponents to less than 60 points.
 
Opposite Ends Of The Spectrum - Through 26 games of the 2021-22 season, RMU owns a record 7-2 (.778) when holding opponents under 70 points. On the other end, the Colonials are 0-17 when opponents score 70 or more points.

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