Game #30 • Robert Morris (21-8, 12-4 NEC) @ Sacred Heart (13-16, 7-9 NEC)
2011-12 Schedule / Results
Thursday, February 23, 2012 • 7:00 p.m. • William H. Pitt Center (2,100) • Fairfield, Conn. Radio: WPIT-AM (730) with Chris Shovlin (play-by-play) & Jim Duzyk (color) Audio 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 (5-1) @ 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 * W, 68-60 @ 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 the 2011-12 regular season with a pair of road games, beginning with a 7:00 p.m. tip against Sacred Heart Thursday at the William H. Pitt Center in Fairfield, Conn. The Colonials, winners of a season-high five straight games and nine of their last 11 contests, are coming off a 68-60 victory over Central Connecticut State (2/18/12) that concluded a three-game homestand. Junior forward Lijah Thompson came off the bench to lead RMU against the Blue Devils with 15 points, converting six of his 10 shots from the floor while going 3-for-3 at the free-throw line. Redshirt junior forward Russell Johnson added 14 points and nine rebounds as Robert Morris shot 54.3 percent (25-for-46) from the field. RMU concludes the 2011-12 regular season after taking on the Pioneers Thursday with an 11:00 a.m. tip @ Quinnipiac Saturday, Feb. 25. Quick Stat of the Night - Despite dealing with a variety of injuries throughout the 2011-12 campaign, including a stretch in which he missed six of seven games, redshirt junior forward Russell Johnson is saving his best basketball of the year for the stretch run. In a 68-60 win over Central Connecticut State (2/18/12), Johnson posted one of his best all-around games of the season, contributing 14 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and three steals. Johnson’s nine boards tied a season high, which he also produced in an 82-77 win @ James Madison (11/22/11) and in a 64-60 victory @ Duquesne (12/6/11). Since returning to action in a 78-74 win @ Saint Francis (Pa.) (2/8/12), Johnson is averaging 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks over his last four games while shooting 48.1 percent (13-for-27) from the field. RMU’s active leading rebounder with 515 career caroms, Johnson ranks 14th all-time at Robert Morris in career boards. Thursday’s Opponent and The All-Time Series RMU vs. Sacred Heart Robert Morris and Sacred Heart will tip on the hardwood for the 22nd time Thursday, with the Series Record ............ Robert Morris leads, 13-8 Colonials holding a 13-8 (.619) advantage in the First Meeting ...................... 2/12/00; RMU, 86-50 all-time series. RMU earned a 70-67 victory over Last Meeting ........................ 1/14/12; RMU, 70-67 Last RMU Win ...................... 1/14/12; RMU, 70-67 the Pioneers in the opening game of the 2011-12 Current Streak .......................... Robert Morris, 1 season series at the Charles L. Sewall Center Toole vs. Sacred Heart ..................................... 1-1 (1/14/12), building a 15-point lead in the second half before holding on for the win. Redshirt sophomore guard Coron Williams led Robert Morris in the vcitory with 20 points, finishing 8-for-13 shooting from the field, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Off the bench, redshirt junior guard Velton Jones contributed 18 points, five assists and three steals.
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. 8.4 4.1 8.5 16.1 10.7
Reb. 5.5 4.1 4.2 2.9 2.7
G/GS 23/20 29/26 19/18 29/28 29/29
Hometown Chester, Pa. Detroit, Mich. Newark, N.J. Philadelphia, Pa. Midlothian, Va.
Quick Fact Averaged 9.0 points, 7.3 rebounds in three-game homestand Shooting 70.7% (29-for-41) from the field in last 15 games Averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds last four games RMU’s active leader in points (1,135), assists (351), steals (155) Only Colonial to start all 29 games on the 2011-12 campaign
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 8.0 6.3 2.3 2.0
Reb. 6.2 4.1 3.0 1.9 0.9
G/GS 27/9 24/14 28/1 27/0 22/0
Hometown Newark, N.J. Philadelphia, Pa. Washington, D.C. Raleigh, N.C. Chattanooga, Tenn.
Quick Fact Has missed RMU’s last two games due to a knee injury In his last four games averaging 10.0 points per contest Owns an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.00 last 11 games Shooting 56.3 percent (9-for-16) from field last eight games Finished with six points, three rebounds vs. Bryant