MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – For the second consecutive game, Robert Morris did not trail in its 61-54 victory over Southern Utah on Day 1 of the Urban-Bennett Invitational at the UPMC Events Center. DeSean Goode led the way with a double-double of 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. With the win, RMU (5-3) extends its home winning streak to 12 games dating back to last season. SUU falls to 2-6 this season.
 
1st HALF
The game started with an exciting exchange of three-pointers, but RMU quickly took control, embarking on a 13-0 run over the subsequent five minutes to seize an early lead. The Colonials continued to apply pressure, extending their advantage to 15 points when Ta'Zir Smith finished a layup at the 5:48 mark, bringing the score to 24-9. RMU peaked late in the half, achieving its largest margin of the game at 21 points after Nikolaos Chitikoudis' putback stretched the score to 34-13 inside the final minute. A pair of free throws from Jaiden Feroah then closed out the first-half scoring, sending the Colonials into the break with a commanding 34-15 lead.
 
2nd HALF
The start of the second half saw a shift in momentum as Southern Utah opened on a 10-2 run to quickly narrow the gap and erase a significant portion of the Colonials' advantage. The Thunderbirds continued to chip away, cutting the deficit down to just 10 points, 45-35, by the under-12 minute media timeout. Tanner Hayhurst's three-pointer at the 2:58 mark made it a two-possession game, bringing Southern Utah within six points at 56-50. However, the RMU defense delivered a critical performance in the final minutes, allowing only one field goal for the remainder of the game to hold off the comeback and secure the victory.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• This was Goode's fourth double-double of the season, matching last year's total
• Goode's 14 rebounds was the most for any RMU player this season
• Albert Vargas scored a season-high 14 points
• Vargas and Smith each had three steals
• Chitikoudis added 11 points
• RMU scored 25 points off 15 SUU turnovers

UP NEXT
Day 2 of the Urban-Bennett Invitational pits Southern Utah and Stetson on Saturday, November 29. The Colonials will host Stetson on Sunday, November 30. Both games start at 2 p.m.
 
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