Game #29 • C. Conn. State (11-14, 8-7 NEC) vs. Robert Morris (20-8, 11-4 NEC)
2011-12 Schedule / Results
Saturday, February 18, 2012 • 7:00 p.m. • Charles L. Sewall Center (3,056) • Moon Township, Pa. Radio: WPIT-AM (730) with Chris Shovlin (play-by-play) & Jim Elias (color) Audio / Video / Live Stats available at www.rmucolonials.com
NOVEMBER (4-2) 11 15 19 22 25 27 1 3 6 8 17 20 22 29 2 5 7 12 14 19 21 26 28 2 4 8 11 16 18 23 25 1 4 7
RIDER W, 83-57 @ Saint Peter’s W, 69-52 @ Penn # L, 60-66 @ James Madison # W, 82-77 vs. La Salle # W, 51-44 @ No. 16 Pittsburgh # L, 71-81 DECEMBER (6-2) FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON * W, 66-54 MONMOUTH * W, 69-51 @ Duquesne W, 64-60 CLEVELAND STATE L, 58-62 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE W, 72-64 HAMPTON W, 64-54 @ Youngstown State W, 59-56 @ Memphis L, 47-64 JANUARY (6-3) @ Ohio W, 70-67 @ Bryant * W, 84-53 @ Central Connecticut State * L, 53-68 QUINNIPIAC * L, 76-78 SACRED HEART * W, 70-67 @ Fairleigh Dickinson * W, 67-55 @ Monmouth * (OT) W, 81-73 LONG ISLAND * W, 75-66 ST. FRANCIS (N.Y.) * L, 68-81 FEBRUARY (4-1) @ Wagner * L, 69-80 @ Mount St. Mary’s * W, 67-62 @ Saint Francis (Pa.) * W, 78-74 SAINT FRANCIS (Pa.) * W, 70-56 BRYANT * W, 69-40 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE * 7:00 p.m. @ Sacred Heart * 7:00 p.m. @ Quinnipiac * 11:00 a.m. MARCH (0-0) NEC Tournament Quarterfinals TBA NEC Tournament Semifinals TBA NEC Tournament Final TBA
# The Philly Hoop Group Classic (Philadelphia, Pa.) (La Salle game played at the Palestra) * Northeast Conference game
Top Story - The Robert Morris University men’s basketball team closes out a three-game homestand in search of its fifth straight win Saturday night when it hosts Central Connecticut State in a 7:00 p.m. tip at the Charles L. Sewall Center. The Colonials are coming off a 69-40 victory over Bryant (2/16/12) as redshirt junior guard Velton Jones led RMU with 19 points on the strength of a 9-for-11 performance at the charity stripe. Junior center Lijah Thompson added 13 points and a game-high seven rebounds against the Bulldogs, while senior forward Lawrence Bridges contributed 10 points and six caroms. The Colonials, who have clinched a berth in the 2012 Northeast Conference Tournament, can clinch a home game in the postseason tournament with a victory over the Blue Devils. RMU closes out its 2011-12 regular season after taking on CCSU Saturday with a pair of road games, visiting Sacred Heart (2/23/12) and Quinnipiac (2/25/12). Quick Stat of the Night - Robert Morris is in the midst of its golden era of men’s basketball, as thanks to a 69-40 victory over Bryant (2/16/12) the Colonials reached the 20-win plateau for the fourth time in the last five seasons and seventh time overall. RMU enters Saturday’s game against Central Connecticut State having won 111 games since the beginning of the 2007-08 campaign, which stands as both a school and Northeast Conference record for a five-year span. Overall, the Colonials have posted seven straight winning seasons, the longest active stretch in the NEC. Robert Morris has a chance to add to its accomplishments Saturday against the Blue Devils, as a victory over Central Connecticut State would notch program victory No. 500. In 36 years as a Division I program, RMU owns an overall record of 499-537 (.482), including marks of 294-237 (.554) in the NEC and 232-122 (.655) in contests at the Charles L. Sewall Center. Saturday’s Opponent and The All-Time Series RMU vs. Central Conn. State Robert Morris and Central Connecticut State meet for the 30th time on the hardwood Satur- Series Record ............ Robert Morris leads, 16-13 day, with the Colonials holding a 16-13 (.552) First Meeting ......................... 2/4/89; RMU, 81-71 edge in the all-time series. The Blue Devils have Last Meeting .................... 1/7/12; CCSU, 68-53 Last RMU Win ........................ 3/7/10; RMU, 71-63 won two straight over the Colonials after posting Current Streak ......................................... CCSU, 2 a 68-53 win in the opening game of the 2011-12 Toole vs. Central Conn. State ......................... 0-2 season series at Detrick Gymnasium (1/7/12) in New Britain, Conn. In that contest guard Robby Ptacek scored 24 points to pace Central Connecticut State. RMU was led by redshirt junior forward Russell Johnson, who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. Off the bench, freshman forward Lucky Jones recorded his first collegiate double-double with 11 points and 11 caroms.
Robert Morris Probable Starters ... # 34 24 1 2 3
P F F F G G
Name Russell Johnson (6-6, 180, R-Jr.) Lawrence Bridges (6-5, 225, Sr.) Mike McFadden (6-8, 220, So.) Velton Jones (6-0, 170, R-Jr.) Coron Williams (6-2, 170, R-So.)
Pts. 8.2 4.0 8.4 16.4 11.0
Reb. 5.4 4.1 4.0 2.8 2.8
G/GS 22/19 28/25 18/17 28/27 28/28
Hometown Chester, Pa. Detroit, Mich. Newark, N.J. Philadelphia, Pa. Midlothian, Va.
Quick Fact Ranks 14th all-time at Robert Morris with 506 career rebounds Contributed 10 points, six rebounds in victory over Bryant Shooting 57.7 percent (45-for-78) from field against NEC foes Established new single-season record for free throws (160) Scored just one point vs. Bryant in 17 minutes of action
Robert Morris Off The Bench ... # 22 11 5 35 21
P F C G F G
Name Lucky Jones (6-5, 195, Fr.) Lijah Thompson (6-7, 215, Jr.) Anthony Myers (5-11, 170, So.) Keith Armstrong (6-7, 230, Fr.) Brandon Herman (6-1, 190, Fr.)
Pts. 8.2 7.7 6.3 2.2 2.0
Reb. 6.2 4.2 3.0 1.9 1.0
G/GS 27/9 23/14 28/1 26/0 21/0
Hometown Newark, N.J. Philadelphia, Pa. Washington, D.C. Raleigh, N.C. Chattanooga, Tenn.
Quick Fact Missed RMU’s 69-40 victory over Bryant with knee injury Produced 13 points, game-high seven boards vs. Bryant Owns an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.86 last 10 contests Shooting 53.3 percent (8-for-15) from field last six games Finished with six points, three rebounds vs. Bryant