INDIANAPOLIS — That’s a stunning turnaround. Robert Morris simply couldn’t finish off IUPUI in the early part of the second half, and the Horizon League’s last place team picks off the Colonials to end the four-game winning streak. And that will finish RMU’s chances at a bye.
The good news is that the Colonials will open the Horizon League tournament at home; the bad news is that the momentum from this surge is gone.
SECOND HALF
0:14 — Colonials use their last timeout. It’s going to take a miracle for them to avoid defeat here. Too many mistakes in the second half and too much D.J. Jackson.
0:25 — Osten, forgotten all night, comes up with what might be the dagger on a jumper. RMU looks like it’s out of chances.
1:02 — RMU had a chance to tie but rushes a 3-point attempt. Not the shot that the Colonials needed there. Now they’ve got to get a stop.
1:55 — IUPUI coach Matt Crenshaw calls “No reach-ins” to his players…and two seconds later, Jarrard commits a foolish reach in. IUPUI’s doing its best to keep RMU alive.
1:57 — Jackson Last fouls out on a block call that looked questionable at first, but upon seeing it on the video board, his feet were moving. That’s the right call.
2:40 — Jarrard does it again. He’s fouled on a 3-pointer and it drops through, and this time, he converts the free throw. This looks bleak for RMU.
3:03 — Jackson Last has to take that up stronger than that and take the foul. The way the game’s being called tonight, that would have been two shots. Instead, it’s a missed shot and two free throws at the other end.
4:07 — This looks like a major problem for RMU, as Armon Jarrard drills a 3-pointer to put the Jaguars up by eight. The Jaguars have outscored the Colonials 13-4 since RMU’s last lead.
6:32 — Back-to-back turnovers have this game in a tight spot for RMU. The Colonials haven’t gotten the shots to fall, and without the free throws to carry them here, the lead has disappeared.
7:47 — Andy Toole sounds pretty displeased with his team right now; the only sounds coming from the RMU huddle are his yells. This stretch is critical for the Colonials.
9:13 — And Osten gives the Colonials a break by committing a rather foolish reach-in foul 22 feet from the basket. That’s his fourth, and the Colonials have the inside edge again.
10:49 — Osten finally has his second basket of the night. RMU has to keep him from becoming a factor down the stretch. Jaguars are on an 8-2 run at the media timeout.
12:20 — Walker commits foul number four on a 3-point shot from Vincent Brady. The Colonials just can’t put this game to bed.
14:22 — Osten returns to the floor with RMU now up seven and the Jaguars bickering with each other. Matt Crenshaw obviously figuring that he’s got to pull out all the stops before the Colonials put this away.
16:31 — I think the officials just botched two consecutive calls. First, they call a questionable goaltend against Robert Morris when the ball appeared to not yet be rim height, handing IUPUI two points. On the ensuing possession, they called a loose ball foul agianst the Jaguars that looked 50-50.
I think RMU will take the exchange.
17:53 — This is not fine with RMU. The Colonials already have four fouls this half, and we’re not at the first media timeout yet. And Enoch Cheeks has three fouls, so Toole’s got to be smart with his lineup.
18:50 — IUPUI’s going to try to start trapping. So far, RMU handles it well, and the possession ends with an Enoch Cheeks layup. So far, the second half has started even, and that’s fine with the Colonials.
Halftime: The Colonials have to be happy with where this game is. They have been far from their best, but they’ve hung with it and built a small lead despite that. They have Chris Osten in foul trouble, which is huge considering Osten scored 21 points in Moon Township. If they can get off to a good start in the second half, they should have this game.
HALF: ROBERT MORRIS 34, IUPUI 29
38.6 — Great vision on that possession by Josh Corbin. The lane was wide open, but so was Michael Green in the corner. Green drills the open 3, and Robert Morris has its largest lead. Better, the Colonials should get one more possession before the break.
2:41 — And that’s not ideal. Stephaun Walker now has his third foul. He’s not as key to RMU as Osten is to IUPUI, but still, not the kind of move Toole wanted to make.
2:54 — Two reasons Robert Morris has this game tied while hitting just four shots from inside the arc: the Colonials have forced nine turnovers, and they’re making a living at the line. The shots aren’t falling, but RMU isn’t letting it affect things at the stripe, going 12-for-16 on foul shots.
4:53 — To its credit, IUPUI isn’t rolling over and dying. Vincent Brady knocks down a 3 at the other end, and IUPUI pulls back ahead. A free throw at the other end from the Colonials even things back up.
6:31 — And there it is. Kahliel Spear drives the lane right at Osten, and that’s his third foul. The IUPUI big man is back to the bench, and Toole knows it, immediately turning to the bench and telling his assistants, “That’s 3”.
More importantly, the run is 8-0 Colonials.
7:07 — What a way to get into the bonus. Enoch Cheeks drills a 3-pointer from the top of the key and gets fouled in the act. He converts the four-point play, and the Colonials are level.
7:40 — Chris Osten returns to the game. If the Colonials can get him to pick up No. 3, the Jaguars will really find themselves in a tight spot.
7:55 — RMU remains ice-cold from the field, hitting a mere 2-for-9 from inside the arc. This should even itself out over time, but the Colonials are missing a lot of makeable shots.
9:19 — And as soon as I write that, Jlynn Counter responds at the other end with a 3 of his own.
10:06 — RMU is starting to step it up on defense, forcing turnovers on the Jaguars’ past two possessions. Now they have to get the shots falling, and that 3-pointer from Michael Green should help.
11:55 — This has been a very long timeout. I think there’s something wrong with the floor. Three people, including IUPUI SID Ed Holloway, are crowded around the 3-point line on the opposite side of the scorer’s table, so hopefully the floor is the only issue.
11:55 — Second foul on Stephaun Walker. Andy Toole opts not to sit him. Greater concern is that IUPUI is holding RMU to 3-for-11 from the floor at the second media timeout. So far, RMU is not taking advantage of its opportunities.
14:04 — This is far too sloppy from RMU. The Colonials haven’t yet done anything with the loss of Osten, thanks to some bad decisions with the ball. RMU has to calm down and play its game.
15:18 — This could be big. Chris Osten just picked up his second foul of the first five minutes. IUPUI is neither deep nor tall, and Osten is their best big man. With him out, the Colonials could really camp out in the lane.
16:09 — Vincent Brady drills a 3-pointer off the inbounds pass. Andy Toole’s not very happy about the lack of urgency so far from the Colonials; that’s got to change in a hurry.
18:17 — Slow start for both teams in the early going. Robert Morris missed its first two looks of the game, finally scoring on a Jackson Last dunk. Colonials have to stay patient.
20:00 — We’re about to tip here in Indy. Colonials moving right to left to start the game.
Pregame
Robert Morris has to have this game to earn the No. 5 seed. If they win, they need a little help but should have no worse than the No. 6 seed, which would mean a home playoff game.
