MOON TOWNSHIP, PA (93.7 The Fan) – It was the team that captured the attention of local basketball fans last year. Robert Morris won 13 of its last 14 and then the Horizon League Tournament to earn a spot in March Madness. This year the Colonials have had their moments, what they said about finding that gear again this year.
RMU (14-9, 6-6 Horizon League) had a strong second half holding the Jaguars (6-17, 2-10) to 36% shooting in the last 20 minutes and finished +17 rebounding with 19 assists on 28 made baskets for a 74-58 win.
Head coach Andy Toole credited consistently trying to bring the right energy, especially defensively Wednesday night at the UPMC Events Center. He said the defense hasn’t been what it has needed to be this season and he will continue to emphasize it. But it’s more than just talking about it, they need to do it, consistently.
“We talk a lot about the defense determines whether you win or lose and the offense determines by how much,” Toole said. “You can have bad offensive games, but if your defense is always consistent you are going to be able to figure out how to win some ugly games.”
“That defense has got to be the calling card. It’s been the calling card for all of our good teams that I’ve ever coached. Eight games left, we got to lock in and execute the best we can.”
Coming into the game, RMU was third in the Horizon League in points allowed, second in field goal percentage defense, tops in rebounding and second in assists.
“The little things matter, communication, playing defense, all the little things got us to where we needed to be last year,” said junior Ryan Prather, who led the Colonials with 20 points Wednesday. “Once we do the little things tremendously, I feel like we can get there again.”
“I told them before the game today we had 360 minutes left in the season,” Toole said. “Now we are down to 320 minutes, that’s it. All the practices, all the workouts, all the summer, all the other games, 320 minutes, that’s it. It’s going to fly by and we’ve got to try and maximize every opportunity.”
Colonials have half of their last eight at home, next is a first meeting with Wright State on Wednesday, February 4 at 7p.