Struggling to find their groove to begin the 2021-22 season, Robert Morris men’s basketball experienced another setback Sunday afternoon in its second to last matchup before Christmas.
The Colonials (1-9) faced Bowling Green (6-4) on the road for the team’s seventh game away from the UPMC Events Center out of 10 total contests.
The Falcons, hailing from the MAC, entered as 10-point favorites and are one of the highest scoring teams while also strong on the glass, two faults plaguing RMU and continued in a 100-74 Bowling Green victory.
Similar to most Robert Morris first halves, the Colonials kept the margin slim, tied at 13 with five minutes off the clock.
A 9-0 run sparked Bowling Green before a Michael Green III three pointer ended the RMU scoring drought.
Matt Mayers was slotted into the starting lineup in place of Justin Winston and made impact plays while being aggressive on offense.
Rasheem Dunn also chipped in to put RMU down one at 27-26 after a Kam Farris three tied it at 24, but the Falcons capitalized on Colonial missed shots and turnovers.
Bowling Green shared the wealth as four players tied for the team lead with eight points. Starters Joe Reece, Trey Diggs, and Daeqwon Plowden along with Brenton Mills off the bench lead the charge offensively.
The final five minutes of the first half were dominated by the home team, pushing the lead to double digits as RMU displayed sloppy play and once again gave up numerous offensive rebounds.
A 42-31 advantage with two and a half remaining grew to 47-33 to conclude the first 20 minutes.
Nine points by Mayers led all scorers as RMU shot an even 50% from the field and 43% from downtown. Kam Farris also recorded eight points thanks to 3-3 shooting and two triples.
Bowling Green shot over 51% and out-rebounded RMU 19-14. The Colonials also lost the turnover battle in the first half 11-7.
The second half was a carbon copy of the first, sloppy offense and a failure to rebound which had held the Colonials back the entire season.
The team should be able to find some chemistry 10 games in, but continues to falter down the stretch.
Scoring droughts and opposition scoring runs are crushing Andy Toole’s team and playing away from home early and often doesn’t help much either.
Bowling Green took a 72-51 lead into the under 12 timeout and looked poised to seal it with ease.
RMU’s deficit continued to grow with Mayers and Farris the only bright spots, especially Mayers, in an otherwise dark afternoon.
The lead grew to 25 at 81-56 with 8:03 left and would hold up the rest of the way.
Robert Morris tried to fight back in it, but Bowling Green closed out the Colonials and the deficit was too much to overcome.
Turnovers was the name of the game for RMU, giving it away 20 times in the loss.
Mayers paced Robert Morris with 15 points while Green III (14), Farris (13), Winston (11), and Enoch Cheeks(10) also reached double figures.
RMU never led in the game and trailed by 28 at one point, shooting just over 49%.
Reece and Plowden guided the Falcons to victory with 19 points and six rebounds apiece.
Robert Morris faces former NEC rival St. Francis Wednesday night on the road at 7 p.m.
