Annapolis, Md. - The Robert Morris University men's basketball teamimproved to 2-0 for the second straight season Wednesday night with a 93-77 victory over Navy at Alumni Hall in the preliminary round of The Philly Hoop Group Classic. The Midshipmen fell to 1-2 overall and have dropped both of their contests thus far in the exempt tournament. Bolstered by four players in double figures, the Colonials scored the most points in a non-conference road game since opening the 2002-03 campaign with a 96-86 win at Missouri-Kansas City.
The Mids jumped out to a 7-3 lead at the 18:27 mark of the first half, but the Colonials used a 12-2 spurt to take a 15-9 advantage with 15:02 left before the break. RMU received balanced scoring during the run and were led by senior forward A.J. Jackson (Monessen, Pa. / Monessen), who scored five points. Sophomore guard Jimmy Langhurst (Willard, Ohio / Willard) also added a three-pointer, while senior guard Tony Lee (Boston, Mass. / Charlestown) and junior guard Jeremy Chappell (Cincinnati, Ohio / Northwest) each hit layups.
Sophomore forward Dallas Green (Indianapolis, Indiana / Northwest) gave Robert Morris an 18-11 lead after converting a layup and free throw thanks to a foul by Greg Sprink, but Navy used a 7-0 spurt to tie the game at 18-18 after a layup from Clif Colbert. RMU weathered the storm by scoring the next five points, which started the Colonials on a 22-11 run to give the club a 40-29 lead with 3:33 to go before halftime. RMU never trailed again. Chappell got the run started with a three-pointer and scored nine points during the spurt, while Jackson and freshman guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) each added three-pointers. Robert Morris eventually went into the half with a five-point lead, 42-37, when Derek Young hit a pair of free throws with just 0.8 seconds remaining in the first stanza thanks to a foul by Wallace.
Ben Biles pulled the Midshipmen within three, 42-39, out of the second-half gates with a layup, but Robert Morris scored seven straight points to get its lead back to double digits, 49-39. Jackson hit a layup while Langhurst scored five points, including a three-pointer. Navy closed its deficit to six, 55-49, after a jumper from Sprink, but the Colonials stretched their lead to 67-49 thanks to 12 unanswered points. RMU did most of its damage at the free-throw line, as Jackson was 4-for-4 during the stretch while Langhurst and sophomore guard Mezie Nwigwe (Hyattsville, Md. / High Point) each hit a pair. The lead swelled to 72-51 in favor of Robert Morris after a pair of free throws from junior forward Ifeanyi Ehirim (Toronto, Ontario / Eldon Academy Prep), and the closest the Mids were able to whittle their deficit the rest of the game was 14.
Jackson led the Colonials by taking home game-high honors in both points (22) and rebounds (10), recording his first double-double of the season and 22nd of his career. Thanks to his performance he joined the Robert Morris 1,000-point and 500-rebounds clubs, as his 22 points gives him 1,011 for his career, and his 10 caroms pushes his total to 508. Chappell added 20 points, nine rebounds and five steals for the Colonials, while Langhurst and Lee each finished with 12 points. Lee also added eight rebounds and a game-high eight assists.
Robert Morris continues play in The Philly Hoop Group Classic Sunday, Nov. 18, when it travels to Orange, N.J., for a 1:00 p.m. contest with Seton Hall. The Colonials will close out the tourney with a pair of games at the Palestra in Philadelphia, Pa., squaring off with Drexel Friday, Nov. 23, before facing either Loyola (Md.) or Howard Saturday, Nov. 24.
