Syracuse, N.Y. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball team opened its 2009-10 campaign Wednesday night with a 100-60 loss to Syracuse at the Carrier Dome in the 2K Sports Classic, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer.

It marks the second straight season-opening loss for RMU as the Colonials fall to 0-1 while the Orange improve to 2-0. All five Syracuse starters scored in double figures while the Orange converted 58.3 percent (35-for-60) of their shots from the floor, including 50 percent (13-for-26) from beyond the arc.

Robert Morris held an early 6-5 lead after senior forward Dallas Green (Indianapolis, Indiana / Northwest) hit the back end of a pair of free throws, but a 9-0 spurt that was bolstered by five points from Rick Jackson allowed Syracuse to open up a 15-6 advantage.

The Colonials closed their deficit to 18-16 at the 11:20 mark of the first half thanks to a 10-3 surge that started with a layup off an offensive rebound from senior forward Rob Robinson (Waldorf, Md. / Globe Institute of Technology) and ended with a fastbreak layup from senior guard Mezie Nwigwe (Hyattsville, Md. / High Point). Robinson scored four points during the run, while junior guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) converted a three-pointer.  

Robert Morris kept within striking distance, trailing, 24-21, with 8:34 remaining before halftime after a jumper from sophomore guard Velton Jones (Philadelphia, Pa. / Northeast Catholic), but the Orange took control by scoring the next 13 points of the contest to open up a 37-21 advantage. Wes Johnson scored six points during the salvo, while Scoop Jardine added four points from the free-throw line.

Freshman guard Karon Abraham (Paterson, N.J. / Harp Academy) did his best to keep the Colonials in the game, scoring eight straight points to pull Robert Morris within 39-29 with 4:17 to play before halftime. He buried a pair of three-pointers, and after the second trifecta picked the pocket of Johnson before converting a fastbreak layup.

Syracuse responded out of a timeout after Abraham's eighth straight point by closing the first half on a 16-3 surge to take a 55-32 lead at the break. Arinze Onuaku had 14 points in the first half for the Orange, Andy Rautins contributed 13 points on the strength of four three-pointers and Johnson scored 12 points.

In the second half the Syracuse lead eventually swelled to 71-38 as the Orange shot 51.7 percent (15-for-29) from the field after halftime. 

Robert Morris was led by Jones, who in his collegiate debut scored 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor, including a 3-for-6 performance from long range. He also added two assists and four steals.

Abraham scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half off the bench for the Colonials, while Robinson recorded his third career double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

RMU shot just 35.5 percent (22-for-62) from the floor and converted just six of its 23 attempts (26.1 percent) from beyond the arc while also committing 28 turnovers, the most in a game under third-year head coach Mike Rice. Robert Morris did record 16 assists on its 22 field goals, including a team-high three by Nwigwe, and posted 15 steals.

The Colonials are next in action Monday, Nov. 16, when they travel to University Park, Pa., for a 7:30 p.m. tip with Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center.