MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Robert Morris’ win streak has ended at six.
Fairliegh Dickinson halted the Colonials’ red-hot run through Northeast Conference play with a 72-71 win at the UPMC Events Center on Saturday. The game featured a wild finish with three lead changes within the final 22 seconds, capped by Kaleb Bishop’s tip-in with 1.2 seconds left which served as the final nail in the coffin that put the Knights ahead for good.
On RMU’s final inbound, Josh Williams was ran over by Bishop while setting a screen, but the officials declined call a foul before Dane Treacy chucked up a half-court shot that hit the edge of the backboard. Robert Morris coach Andy Toole briefly followed the officials off the court with some choice words before turning around and speaking with FDU coach Greg Herenda, who Toole said agreed the foul should have been called.
AJ Bramah led Robert Morris (15-12, 11-3) with 17 points and six rebounds. Charles Bain and Yannis Mendy both added 10 points, while four others – Treacy, Sayveon McEwen, Josh Williams and Charles Bain – all finished with eight points, respectively.
Now, here’s everything else that happened.
In an afternoon matineé that tipped off at 1pm, Robert Morris’ starting five began the game like it was still asleep. The Colonials fell behind, 14-6, within the first four minutes of the first half, but Bramah and McEwen came off the bench to provide a quick dose of much-needed energy. McEwen hit a pair of timely 3s and Bramah converted a contested and-1 to spark a 14-0 run that gave the Colonials a nine-point lead – their largest of the game. But Fairleigh Dickinson (8-16, 6-7) cut the deficit to one, 32-31, by halftime. The second half was much of the same. For every time the Colonials were seemingly pulling away, the Knights continuously battled back to stay within striking distance.
And then came Xzavier Malone-Key’s and-1 layup with 27 seconds left.
The FDU forward converted the three-point play that put the Knights ahead, 70-69, and placed Robert Morris’ win-streak in serious jeopardy. But Bramah had other plans. With 8.4 seconds left, the JUCO transfer drew a foul and hit both free throws to take back the lead – 71-69. FDU guard Jahlil Jenkins raced down the court and chucked up a contested layup that bounced off the rim. Bishop out-leaped several Robert Morris defended to sink the game-winning tip-in.
Robert Morris will be back in action on Feb. 18 against NEC rival Saint Francis University.
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