Despite getting mauled on the glass, Mount St. Mary’s staved off Robert Morris on Thursday night at the Knott Arena to claim their eighth Northeast Conference win in nine games, 48-47. The Mountaineers were out-rebounded 49-22.
The victory also improves their win-streak to six games, the longest since 2013 when they won nine straight.
Mount St. Mary’s (10-12, 8-1) conference start is its best since joining the NEC in 1989-90. Junior Robinson led all scorers with 18 points on 5-for-11 shooting. He also added three assists.
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Check out the game highlights from tonights @MountHoops win over @RMUAthletics here! #MountMayhem https://t.co/acp3UwVxQn
Mount St. Mary’s went the first 8 minutes and 15 seconds of regulation without allowing a basket, and stifled Robert Morris out of the gates who missed their first seven shots and committed five turnovers before their first field goal.
As soon as the Colonials took their first lead of the game, 11-9, at the 8:19 mark, Robinson ensued with a 3-pointer on the following possession.
The Mountaineers went on an 8-0 run to take a 24-16 lead after the game was gridlocked at 16-all. Robert Morris only led for 45 seconds in the first half, and Mount St. Mary’s took a 25-20 lead into the break.
Robert Morris flipped the tide to open the second half, reeling off a 15-0 run the first six and a half minutes to take a 35-25 lead. Robinson sank three free throws to break the spell, making it 35-28, but the Mountaineers’ first basket in the second half didn’t come until the 13:01 mark when Robinson made a layup.
The Colonials held the lead from the 18:02 mark to the 4:10 mark, before Elijah Long (nine points, fve rebounds and four assists) made two free throws to put the Mountaineers back on top, 45-44.
Mount St. Mary’s held Robert Morris scoreless for near seven minute stretch to pad the lead to 48-44 with 3:09 to go. Though they didn’t score the rest of the way, it was all the Mountaineers needed to stay atop the NEC.
Chris Wray added eight points, four steals and four blocks. Miles Wilson and Mado Sallah both had four points.
Mount St. Mary’s shot 38.1 percent (16-for-42) and 22.2 percent from behind the arc (4-for-18). They also missed 10 free throws, shooting 54.5 percent (12-for-22).
Robert Morris shot 31.4 percent (16-for-51) and 46.7 percent from downtown (7-for-15). They, too, missed 10-plus free throws (8-for-19).
NUMBER CRUNCH
5 — amount of bench points Mount St. Mary’s put up on Thursday
21 — total free throws missed
25 — amount of turnovers Jamion Christian’s #MountMayhem defense forced
IN THE NEWS
Patrick Stevens from the Washington Post projected the NCAA tournament field on Thursday afternoon, and Mount St. Mary’s is predicted to land the No. 16 seed and play N.C. Central in a First-Four game with the prospects of facing No. 1 Villanova in the round of 64.
UP NEXT
Mount St. Mary’s hosts Sacred Heart on Saturday at 4:00 pm. The Mountaineers beat the Pioneers in their first meeting, 86-75, on January 19.
