MOON TOWNSHIP – Robert Morris had another chance to take a step in the right direction in turning their season around and grab its third win in four games with the winless Detroit Mercy visiting the UPMC Events Center.
For the second consecutive game, it warranted extra time to decide it as Robert Morris avoided a letdown with a dramatic 102-99 double overtime victory.
It all came as a plethora of players recorded career nights from both Robert Morris (7-12, 3-5) and Detroit Mercy (0-19, 0-8).
Graduate senior Markeese Hastings dropped a career-best 31 points and 15 rebounds as he put together a cool 17 for 17 from the free throw line in a game that the Colonials went 36 for 40 from the charity stripe.
While Hastings played consistently all night, it was TJ Wainwright that caught lightning in a bottle late in the second half and it carried over into the overtime frames as he notched a career-high 30 points. He poured in 16 with under three minutes left in regulation all the way through both overtimes.
In the grueling dual, Jayden Stone was masterful with a double-double and his own personal-high 36 points on four triples. Marcus Tankersley joined all the career days with 29 points.
With Detroit Mercy’s leading scorer in Stone back in the lineup for the second consecutive game after missing the prior six, the Titans looked to maintain against the Colonials, who were without Jackson Last.
However, Robert Morris took quick advantage of poor shooting from the Titans and fostered a 14-0 run that saw a handful of key triples fall from Wainwright and Alvaro Folgueiras that were beneficiaries of the Colonials working it inside and then kicking it to the open shooters.
The Colonials built their largest lead to 13 after Justice Williams pulled down a defensive rebound and hit Wainwright on the right wing for an open transition trey.
All of sudden, Detroit Mercy found its stride shooting behind its driving force in Tankersley, who averages 13.9 points per game. He registered 13 points in the first half to lead the Titans.
After a Tankersley layup, the Colonials were not on the same page as Hastings went to inbounds it to Wainwright, who started to head up the floor. Following the turnover, Stone made the Colonials pay with a driving layup late in the shot clock to give the Titans their first lead in nearly 10 minutes.
Detroit Mercy orchestrated a 16-2 run that thrusted them ahead of the Colonials and it all came as Josh Corbin yet again left the game with an apparent knee injury after stepping on a Titans defender. He returned to the game a few minutes later, but he was held scoreless from the floor in the first half after dropping 28 Friday night against Purdue Fort Wayne.
Running with a stalemate to open up the second half at 41-41, Robert Morris responded after Tankersley and Mak Manciel connected on shots to open the half.
Robert Morris went ahead for the first time in over nine minutes on a spinning jumper by Williams.
Shortly thereafter, several uninspiring possessions by the Colonials led to the Titans scoring down on the other end, including a Stone corner triple.
The Titans gripped the momentum as Stone came away with the ball after a defensive stop as he ran the floor and finished with an aggressive drive to the cup to give the Titans their biggest lead of the second half.
Things continued to spiral after a small scuffle led to a review, but in the meantime, Andy Toole was given a technical for expressing his frustration to the official.
Tankersley hit both free throws to extend the Titans lead to 71-64.
Then, it was the Colonials turn to face the pressure at the free throw line. Wainwright was fouled beyond the arc and on the defensive end as he nailed all five free throws.
Wainwright continued to clutch up as he pulled off a crossover that lost Kyle LeGreair as Wainwright rose up and knocked down the triple with 1:31 to go.
Moments later, Stone was fouled beyond the arc and he would hit all three free throws to tie it at 74-74.
With the shot clock turned off, an RMU turnover allowed Stone one last look, but his miss meant overtime for the second straight game for the Colonials.
Carrying his hot hand over to the bonus slot, Wainwright hit a critical three ball and then followed it up with a pretty looking mid-range shot.
Stone answered with his own handful of jaw-dropping plays, including a triple and impressive fadeaway that put the Titans up by two, but it wasn’t enough as the game needed another overtime to decide it.
In double overtime, Wainwright hit a tough layup and drew the foul as he finished the three-point play at the line. Williams’s key mid-range jumper was just enough to hold off a feisty Titans bunch to claim the dramatic victory.
For the first time in the month of January, Robert Morris will hit the road to take on IUPUI on Saturday with tip set for noon.
