LORETTO, Pa. – It took nearly all night for the RMU offense to get going against a pesky Saint Francis team, but at the most critical time, the stars of the Colonials awoke to erase an 18-point deficit to take down the Red Flash 75-73.
A pair of enormous triples by Josh Corbin gave the Colonials (4-8) a one-point lead late in the second half after the Colonials full court press stymied any chance of the Red Flash (4-8) moving up the floor.
Then, after a Cam Gregory layup put the Red Flash back in front, Justice Williams held the ball in his hand as he rose up to knock down the game-winning triple.
Williams stuck with it all night, hitting important shots, but none were more significant than the corner three that put the exclamation point on the comeback as he finished with 20 points.
Markeese Hastings was also a force down the stretch in the victory as he scored 19 points and 8 rebounds.
On the other end, freshman forward Eli Wilborn was a feisty matchup for Hastings and the Colonials frontcourt as he finished with 15 behind a 16-point night from Gregory.
Saint Francis took advantage of miscues from RMU in the first half and climbed out to a lead as big as 15. The Red Flash never trailed in the opening stanza.
The first half was one that the Colonials can crumple up and throw away as 10 turnovers once again bit the Colonials. The Red Flash also seized control of the offensive glass, pulling down nine rebounds, leading to a handful of second chance opportunities.
As Saint Francis built its lead, Carlos Lopez Jr. was at the forefront of it, including a physical drive to the hoop as he went with the left-handed up and under. He completed the three-point play at the foul stripe.
Moments later, Aaron “Ace” Talbert held the ball in his hands late into the shot clock as he rose up to hit a deep three.
With RMU struggling to come up with stops on defense, a Lopez Jr. three and Wilborn’s ability to take advantage of a size mismatch in the paint on TJ Wainwright led to a frustrated Andy Toole to call a timeout as the Red Flash led 33-23.
Needing to stop a 7-0 run late in the half, Wainwright swung a pass out to Hastings who nailed a three to end the first half with 11 points. Saint Francis took a 40-30 lead into the locker room.
Momentum remained on the Saint Francis side starting the second half as Bobby Rosenberger III caught Wainwright on a pump fake from outside as the RMU defender slid past him. Rosenberger went in to finish the play with a layup.
For a team that averages just 5.6 threes per game entering then night, Saint Francis found open shooters from outside, including a key Rosenberger three that was followed up by a Lopez Jr. triple to hit its biggest lead of the night, 60-42.
The Colonials started to finally find some energy on the offense as a mini 6-0 run, highlighted by a Hastings offensive rebound and eventual finish brought the Colonials within nine.
As the Colonials slowly chopped away at the lead, Hastings had his name all over it, colleting rebounds and scoring critical baskets as a clean low post shot brought it to a 65-57 deficit.
Hastings’ play was complemented by a massive corner triple from Stephaun Walker as he brough it within five, but it was Rosenberger again with a response three to keep the Red Flash lead intact.
After four consecutive free throws made by RMU, a Rosenberger offensive rebound prolonged an offensive look for the Red Flash that ended with a Talbert free throw make to extend their lead to five points.
On the other end of the floor, Robert Morris supplied the full court press, and it came up big. After a Josh Corbin 3-pointer, Jackson Last forced a turnover that Hastings picked up as it led to another monstrous triple for Corbin to give the Colonials first lead of the game, 70-69.
After a Gregory layup, it came down to Williams knocking down the game-winning three as the buzzer rang.
Robert Morris will move on and close out its non-conference schedule with a home test against Cornell on Friday at 2 p.m.
