MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa.  – Ryan Prather Jr.'s 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining in overtime put Robert Morris ahead for good in its 80-77 victory over Youngstown State on Wednesday night at the UPMC Events Center. With the win, the Colonials improve to 9-4 overall and 2-1 in the Horizon League while the Penguins' five-game winning streak was snapped, dropping them to 7-5 overall and 2-1 in the HL loop.
 
1st HALF
Youngstown State wasted no time asserting themselves, jumping out to a quick 12–4 lead punctuated by a Cris Carroll 3-pointer at the 14:43 mark. The Penguins continued to control the pace for much of the half, eventually building a double-digit cushion at 27–17 with just under six minutes remaining. However, the momentum shifted late as the Colonials began to chip away at the deficit. A Josh Hill 3-pointer with 2:51 left on the clock narrowed the margin to a one-possession game, but Carroll delivered again in the closing seconds. His three-pointer with 18 seconds remaining stifled the run and secured a 36–32 advantage for YSU heading into the break.
 
2nd HALF
Momentum shifted midway through the 2nd half while trailing 52–47, Robert Morris ignited a decisive 9–0 scoring run. Behind a clutch three-pointer from DeSean Goode and buckets from Hill and Prather, the Colonials stormed back to take their first lead of the entire game, moving ahead 56–52. The Penguins regained their footing with a Carroll three-pointer to briefly reclaim the lead, and the two sides traded blows until the final minute. With YSU leading by two late, RMU's Albert Vargas made two free throws with only 12 seconds remaining to knot the score at 69 and force overtime.
 
OVERTIME
With the score tied at 74–74, Vladimer Salaridze split a pair of free throws to give YSU a slim edge with 39 seconds left. On RMU's next possession, Prather delivered the dagger. On the Penguins' next possession, Carroll stepped on the line with 5.1 seconds to go. Kalen Brown made one of two foul shots to put RMU up 80-77 with 3.1 seconds remaining. Salaridze's heave at the buzzer was off as the clock ran out.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Prather finished with a team-high 19 points on 8-12 shooting with three 3-pointers
• Goode posted his fifth double-double this season with 16 points and 12 rebounds
• Nikolaos Chitikoudis recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds (10 on the offensive glass)
• Vargas was a perfect 8-8 from the foul line
• Carroll finished with a career-high 31 points
• RMU scored 25 points off YSU turnovers
   

UP NEXT
The Colonials wrap up non-conference play when they travel to Loretto, Pa. to face Saint Francis on December 20. They return to the UPMC Events Center to host Northern Kentucky on December 29.
 
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