Robert Morris had an eye on making its third consecutive trip to the Horizon League Tournament quarterfinals. A team the Colonials lost to just three days prior stood in their way.
Despite a comeback effort early in the second half, the Colonials dug themselves too far into a hole as the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons finished off the Colonials’ season with a 78-63 victory.
Quinton Morten-Robertson paced the ‘Dons with 17 points on 7 of 12 shooting and three triples. Jalen Jackson added 16 points.
Sophomore TJ Wainwright registered a Colonial-high 14 points, while Markeese Hastings and Alvaro Folgueiras scored 12 apiece.
For the Colonials, it was a matter of a five-minute stretch where they went quiet midway through the first half that spelled disaster.
A 15-0 run for the ‘Dons pushed them ahead by 19 as Destin Whitaker and Morton-Robertson splashed home triples.
Corbin sank a triple to end the scoreless drought for the Colonials, but it was quickly followed by a slam from Johnathan DeJurnett – one of a few emphatic slams in the first half from the ‘Dons.
Four consecutive free throws vaulted the Mastodons to their biggest lead at 44-20 until Hastings and Wainwright connected on back-to-back triples.
Robert Morris opened up the second half on a 19-6 run that brought the game within reach at 52-47.
However, Purdue Fort Wayne’s work in the paint allowed the ‘Dons to slowly regain a sizeable lead with Eric Mulder adding eight points and eight rebounds in the second half alone on the way to a double-double.
The Colonials turned the ball over 17 times in the contest, paving the way for 18 Don’s points.
RMU shot 41.1 percent from the floor, along with adding 11 triples.
Purdue Fort Wayne converted on 49.2 percent from the floor. The ‘Dons out-rebounded the Colonials 34-29 in the winning effort.
