MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Robert Morris blasted Wagner to win the Colonials’ fourth straight game to open Northeast Conference play on Saturday.
RMU (8-9, 4-0 NEC) played its second game of a four-game homestand on Saturday afternoon and captured a 94-62 win over the Wagner Seahawks (4-11, 1-3 NEC).
The Colonials used a 20-2 first-half run to take control of all momentum in the game and snatch their fourth consecutive win. They are all alone atop the NEC conference standings as the only team unbeaten.
Redshirt senior guard Josh Williams, who came in shooting a scorching 71.4% (15 for 21) from beyond the arc in the last three games, continued his brilliance. Williams hit his first 3-pointer just two and a half minutes into the game. Then he made four more – only in the first half. He was 7 of 10 for the game and finished with a game-high 21 points.
The Colonials played eight different players before the 10-minute mark of the first half came around. But Wagner’s zone slowed down Robert Morris’ offensive tempo midway through the half. That is, until sophomore point guard Dante Tracey’s passing and control of the offense changed the whole mindset of the team.
Tracey dished out five assists without committing a turnover in the first 20 minutes.
AJ Bramah grabbed five man-like rebounds and scored eight points to give the Colonials a paint presence in the opening half. RMU outscored Wagner 14-4 in first half paint points and took a 35-22 lead into the break.
Robert Morris came out of the half fired up and jumped on Wagner early, but then sloppy play gave Wagner some life. They cut the big lead to 12 points five minutes into the second half, but once again, the Colonials’ depth proved to be too much. RMU used a 12-2 run, over two minutes near the 10-minute mark to put the game away for good.
Robert Morris’ bench outscored Wagner 31-17 for the game, and the Colonials scored 22 points off of 16 Wagner turnovers.
The Colonials dominated the final 10 minutes of the second half. They scored 59 points, shooting 61.8 percent from the field and 10 for 17 from 3.
Besides Williams’ 21 points, the Colonials were led by Bramah with 16 and seven rebounds. Tracey finished with 14 points and six assists, and Yannis Mendy added 13 points.
The Seahawks were led by Curtis Cobb, who finished with 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting.
Up next, Robert Morris will host Merrimack Saturday, Jan. 18 at 5 p.m. and look to improve to 5-0 in conference play.
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