MOON TOWNSHIP – Robert Morris was in search of just its second Horizon League win as one of the top Mid-Major teams in Purdue Fort Wayne stumbled into the UPMC Events Center after dropping its previous two conference matchups.
Taking down the Mastodons was no easy task as it came down to two clutch shots for the Colonials as they prevailed, 91-88 in overtime.
With two seconds on the clock in overtime, Jackson Last heaved an inbounds pass down the court that tipped into the air. Markeese Hastings grabbed it as he turned and sent a prayer towards the hoop that fell in and put the RMU faithful into a frenzy.
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The overtime period was set up by a massive triple from Josh Corbin with less than seven seconds to go in regulation. Corbin found himself open on a designed inbounds play as Steph Walker set a perfect screen to leave Corbin all alone near the top of the key as he cashed in on the triple.
Corbin sent in a masterful performance all while leaving the game momentarily in the second half after hurting his knee. His 28 points behind eight triples paved the way for the Colonials’ offense.
The redshirt senior not only poured in the ball at a high clip but was also effective with his vision as he dished out a team-high six assists that led to the Colonials tying a season-high 21 assists.
The Colonials mounted its second-best outing from the floor, hitting 51.7 percent of its shots, along with 15 triples, including timely deep shots from Jackson Last, who went on to score 17, and Justice Williams, who added 16.
Attempting to match Corbin and the Colonials performance, the nation’s seventh best 3-point shooter at 47.6 percent, Quinton Morton-Robertson was just as dangerous as he dropped in six triples on the way to 24 points.
Morton-Robertson fired at will to start the game, connecting on three consecutive triples in as many shots.
As Morton-Robertson made the Colonials pay from deep, the Mastodons went to work with their ferocious defensive scheme that forces 17.59 turnovers a game, and that was apparent quickly. The Colonials turned the ball over a season-high 25 times with several of those coming as self-inflicted errors.
With the ‘Dons playing takeaway Rasheed Bello’s triple and two free throw makes at the 8:49 mark of the opening half built the ‘Dons lead up to 10.
However, just as quickly as Purdue Fort Wayne got hot, they turned the other way as the ‘Dons went on a five-minute cold spell.
Robert Morris jumped on the scoreless drought and quickly built a 10-0 run to tie the contest at 25-25 after Jackson Last went to the rim and finished with two points high of the glass.
Freshman Alvaro Folgueiras put together an impressive first half and was a key factor in the Colonials’ surge as he rose up for an emphatic block on Eric Mulder in the paint. Folgueiras then dished out several nifty passes, including one after he grabbed an offensive rebound and found Steph Walker streaking in the lane.
The run for the Colonials was strung together with timely triples, including a corner three from Corbin, who tallied three treys in the first half. Williams and Last continued the hot shooting from beyond the arc to help the Colonials take a 34-32 lead into the locker room.
Corbin continued his electric shooting from deep, seemingly stepping back further and further from the arc each time as his second consecutive triple to start the second half to lift the Colonials to a seven-point lead, their biggest of the evening.
As his shots rained from outside the perimeter, Corbin also was impactful with his vision as he found Hastings inside as he finished the play and then minutes later, a Last steal turned into a 2-on-1 opportunity as Corbin hit Last as he flew in for the one-handed slam.
With Corbin taking over for the Colonials, things took a scary turn for the senior guard as he went down hard as he grabbed his right knee at the 9:35 mark of the second half. He would leave the game but return shortly thereafter.
Midway through the half, momentum shifted to the Purdue Fort Wayne side as they connected on numerous threes with the Colonials allowing several open looks for the ‘Dons.
Purdue Fort Wayne’s run of six triples on eight shots from the floor catapulted them back in front as Morton-Robertson hit on two open looks from deep as well as drawing a foul as he proceeded to drop in all three shots from the charity stripe.
Even as Robert Morris responded, the Mastodons were quick to go down and fire from 3-point territory with Maximus Nelson sinking a corner triple to make it 70-64. Nelson finished with 12 points.
As the intensity ramped up in the closing minutes, RMU brought the game within one point as Corbin was back to his usual self and buried a three from the right wing.
Purdue Fort Wayne kept the edge, knocking down free throw after free throw, but the Colonials stayed right behind them.
With seven seconds left, trailing by three, Corbin ran towards the top of the key and knocked down a clutch triple to tie the game at 78-78 and send the game into overtime.
Robert Morris struggled at the rim to start the overtime session, but a key Williams three put the Colonials up 85-83 with two minutes remaining.
On the other end, it was the potent 3-point shooter for the ‘Dons as Morton-Robertson nailed a triple with Corbin right in his face to give the ‘Dons a two-point lead.
After two touchy no calls, including a travel on Morton-Robertson, Last sent the inbounds pass down the floor that tipped in the air for Hastings to turn and nail the game-winner.
Hastings ended the night with 15 points on 5 of 8 shooting, along with eight rebounds.
Robert Morris continues its four-game homestand on Wednesday when Detroit Mercy visits the UPMC Events Center. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
