Robert Morris Beats Youngstown State in Horizon League Championship, Clinches Berth to NCAA Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS — Robert Morris met Youngstown State at the Corteva Coliseum in the Horizon League Championship on Tuesday night with a trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line. The Colonials managed to pull away in the second half to claim its first-ever Horizon League championship and ninth NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Colonials started the game as hot as they could, making all of the first three field goals including two from behind the arc. The hot start was the start of an 11-0 opening run for Robert Morris.

It's 11-0! #GRIT #MarchStartsHere #HLMBB @RMU pic.twitter.com/yxW909ZUp3

— RMU Basketball (@RMUMBasketball) March 11, 2025

While the Colonials threw a great first punch and led 14-5 at the first media break, the Penguins answered back and made it a five-point game by the time that the second media stoppage came around. The Penguins continued their climb as Siem Uijtendaal hit a three to make it a one-score game as the score turned to 19-17 in favor of the Colonials.

Following Uijtendaal’s three, the Colonials started to look like they did in the first four minutes of the game as they went on a 10-3 run that pushed their lead back out to nine. Kam Woods capped the run off with an iso where he backed himself into the paint before hitting a turnaround jumper.

The Penguins once again responded with a run of their own as they went on a 9-1 run to make it a one-point game.

Then, just before halftime, the Colonials pushed their lead back out a bit as Ismael Plet finished off an alley-oop lob with an acrobatic layup and then Woods made a shot just before the buzzer sounded.

Robert Morris carried a 34-29 lead into the locker rooms at halftime despite leading 11-0 to start the game. Woods led all first-half scorers with 13 points as he 5-of-9 field goal attempts including two triples.

It looked as if the game turned into a three-point contest as the second half started. The Penguins hit three in the first four minutes while D.J. Smith, who did not score in the first half, nailed two in that span. Additionally, the Colonials got two and-one opportunities prior to the first media stoppage.

.@Deangilo_Smith is clutch! #GRIT #MarchStartsHere #HLMBB @RMU pic.twitter.com/cx8gMle4Vw

— RMU Basketball (@RMUMBasketball) March 12, 2025

At the stoppage, the Colonial led 47-40 but the Penguins once again rallied back as they used some Colonial defensive lapses to get to the line and convert 5-of-6 free throw attempts. Those pulled the Penguins to within four of the Colonials as the score became 53-49 at the under-12 timeout.

After the break in action, the Penguins used a Cris Carroll three to the game back to one possession as the score changed to 54-52. The Colonials went over three minutes without a field goal but got one just when they needed it on a three from Alvaro Folgueiras.

Then, just after, the Colonials got two more triples, one from Ryan Prather Jr. and one from Josh Omojafo, to extend their lead back out to six at the 7:55 mark of the second half.

We're at the U8 leading 63-57. #GRIT #MarchStartsHere #HLMBB @RMU pic.twitter.com/AYcIDPo6vo

— RMU Basketball (@RMUMBasketball) March 12, 2025

After Omojafo knocked in a pair of free throws, Juwan Maxey hit a three to give the Penguins additional momentum but Folgueiras answered with another and-one. Then, Omojafo sunk a pair of free throws and Folgueiras hit a three to give the Colonials an 11-point lead at the 4:58 mark which was their largest lead since the opening run.

The Colonials extended their lead to 13 after Folgueiras bounced his third triple of the second half which gave them the cushion to close out the championship-clinching win.

WE’RE GOIN’ DANCING!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/r4FF2l9eYx

— RMU Basketball (@RMUMBasketball) March 12, 2025

With the win, the Colonials punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament and will continue dancing as March Madness starts. It will be the first NCAA Tournament berth for the Colonials since they won the NEC in the 2019-20 season although they never got to play in it due to the pandemic.