After winning its first-ever Horizon League game Saturday evening, the Robert Morris men’s basketball team was unable to match that feat less than 24 hours later falling 87-82 to Purdue Fort Wayne.
“We just weren’t ready to compete,” Robert Morris coach Andy Toole said. “We were too casual with the ball in the first half which led to too many uncontested layups and scoring opportunities for them in transition. We weren’t active enough and did not play as hard as you need to play, then you find yourself in a hole down 19 and decide to play. Usually that is a recipe for disaster and it was.”
Purdue Fort Wayne (2-3, 1-3 Horizon) was once again led by Jarred Godfrey who had a double-double consisting of a game-high 27 points and 10 rebounds. Godfrey also added five assists and five steals.
Transfer Bobby Planutis added 13 points for the ‘Dons and both Dylan Carl and Demetric Horton contributed 12 points. Purdue Fort Wayne shot 64.2% for the game.
As he has all season, AJ Bramah led Robert Morris (2-3, 1-1 Horizon), this time with 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting while also grabbing eight rebounds. Jon Williams contributed 16 points while also recording five assists and zero turnovers. Kahliel Spear also achieved a double figure total with his 12 points.
Though the teams traded the lead early on, it was Purdue Fort Wayne that took the lead into the first media timeout, one it would not relinquish for the remainder of this contest.
Robert Morris was hurt by 11 first-half turnovers that Purdue Fort Wayne turned into 20 points. Additionally, the ‘Dons shot 64.5% from the field in the first half. Even though RMU shot 48.4% from the field
“I thought we were lackadaisical with the ball and they came out with more energy than us,” said Toole. “I thought we did a good job of getting organized and getting good shots for ourselves, but we just weren’t able to stop them.”
The Purdue Fort Wayne advantage reached its highest mark, 19 points, just prior to the under-12 media timeout in the second half before Robert Morris began to turn the game around.
As RMU went on a 19-2 run to cut the game to five points on multiple occasions aided by two freshmen guards, first Trayden Williams and the Kam Farris.
Additionally, Robert Morris limited its miscues to three turnovers, to help its cause.
“Usually it comes from a mentality of valuing the basketball, valuing every possession, being locked in mentally to make sure you are making good decisions with the ball,” Toole said. “It was too little, too late.”
Indeed as Toole mentioned, it proved to be too late as Planutis sank a couple of crucial three-point shots which helped keep the advantage out of reach.
Robert Morris will return home and prepare to welcome in 2021 with Horizon League contests Friday and Saturday afternoon against Milwaukee.
