MOON TOWNSHIP — Robert Morris renewed its former NEC rivalry with FDU Sunday afternoon at the UPMC Events Center as the Colonials were searching for their first Division I victory of the season.
Against the Knights (4-4), the Colonials (2-4) rode the hot hand of Josh Corbin, who posted several career-highs in the matchup, on the way to a 97-86 victory.
It was a vastly different shooting game compared to Friday’s tilt with Jacksonville as Robert Morris found success behind the arc with Corbin leading with his smooth 3-point stroke.
The senior posted a personal-best 34 points, along with seven three-pointers, also a new high.
It was a much-needed spark from three as only two shots fell from behind the arc in the Colonials’ loss to the Dolphins on 14 attempts. Sunday, the Colonials fired in 11 from that range as FDU added 10 of its own.
As the Colonials relied on its strong shooting in the first, things began to slip in the second half as the Knights put together a 17-2 run.
Sean Moore played a pivotal role in the Knights’ comeback efforts as he dropped in a huge three to make it a five-point game with two minutes remaining.
Moore tied his personal best in points with 21. He also claimed nine rebounds.
As Corbin culminated a career day, TJ Wainwright also joined him as he topped his career marks. His effort was exemplified by an end-to-end and one play. He would complete the three-point play to put the Colonials up 82-64.
The sophomore finished with 20 points in the winning effort.
Justice Williams was also potent on offense yet again for the Colonials as he added his fifth consecutive double-digit performance to start the season as he totaled 21 points and eight rebounds.
The Colonials needed to fill in the scoring with the absence of Markeese Hastings as he was suspended one game by the Horizon League for his part in the altercation against Jacksonville.
With the offense heating up, Corbin, who missed three games with a hand injury, didn’t seem to be bothered with any issues on his shooting hand as he opened the scoring for the Colonials from 3-point territory.
As FDU kept pace early, the two former foes switched leads five times in the first six minutes. Chartiers Valley product Brayden Reynolds connected on one from deep to give the Knights a one-point margin. Then, Corbin sank his third triple of the game, which kickstarted a 10-0 run for the Colonials as they leaped out to a 22-13 lead.
With the Colonials heating up from deep, they also leaned on their offensive drives, drawing numerous fouls in the first half. For the Colonials, they have been successful from the charity stripe this season and went a perfect 14 for 14 from the line in the first half.
Entering the matchup, RMU ranked 75th in free throw percentage in the nation, which was a drop from 28th after its performance against Jacksonville (15 for 23). On Sunday, the Colonials went 30 for 32 from the free throw line.
The consistent shooting on offense led to a season-high 48 points in the first half for the Colonials as they took a seven-point lead into the locker room.
FDU, who made history last year becoming only the second team to win as a 16-seed in the NCAA Tournament, looked to claw back into the matchup as the Knights’ pesky defense forced several turnovers including a Jameel Morris steal to keep the game within a 10-point deficit early in the second half.
However, moments later, the Colonials ran the floor with Alvaro Folgueiras who lofted it up to a soaring Steph Walker as he brought it down with a thunderous slam.
Folgueiras – a freshman from Malaga, Spain – saw an increased role in the matchup against FDU and he put together a strong effort as he added a lay-in bucket following his alley-oop for a six-point performance with five rebounds in 14 minutes.
Robert Morris continued its deep shooting threat as Alfredo Boglio factored in with his first points of the game on a triple along with two 3-pointers for Justice Williams.
As the Knights kept things interesting down the stretch thanks to 11 Robert Morris turnovers, the Colonials were still able to close out its former rival for their first Division I victory of the season.
Along with Moore, Ansley Almonor, Heru Bligen and Jameel Morris factored in double-digit points for FDU.
Robert Morris will now turn towards Horizon League play with a matchup at Northern Kentucky on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
