MOON TOWNSHIP– Robert Morris (11-13, 6-7 Horizon) faced Wright State (13-11, 6-7) at home for their final game of a four game homestand. Leading into the game RMU and Wright State were jockeying for standing in the Horizon League with tournament season right around the corner.

RMU lost 82-67 although the scoring margin did not indicate how back and forth the game was for the two teams. Both teams went back and forth on scoring runs throughout the game.

RMU lost the game in the paint getting out rebounded 45 to 35 while allowing over 50 points in the paint on the night.

Head coach Andy Toole spoke on Wright State’s gameplan after the game.

“Their game plan from the beginning was clear and evident, and we weren’t able to slow it down in any way, shape, or form. We got absolutely punked in the paint. They big-boy’d us all night and that was the reason they won the game.”

The game went back and forth for a good amount of time with the game tied 12-12 early, RMU had evenly divided their scoring with four a piece from Kahliel Spear, Enoch Cheeks, and Stephaun Walker.

Josh Corbin broke that tie with back-to-back three pointers that gave RMU a four point lead, because of a basket by Tim Finke in-between them.

Wright State responded to the threes with an 8-0 run to take a 22-18 lead over the Colonials. Soon after that Josh Corbin would have an excellent layup to make it a one point game responding to Wright State’s run with a 5-2 run of their own to make it a one point game.

After Wright State took a lead again, Enoch Cheeks made a pair of acrobatic plays to help RMU retake the lead. First, he made a leaping steal and then in mid air threw the ball off a defender before going out of bounds to get RMU a possession. He then made an excellent up and under layup to take the lead.

After that, Wright State would manage to reclaim the lead shortly, making it a two point game before Cheeks would strike again, this time with a three to give the Colonials a lead, 34-33.

Before halftime, Wright State was able to go on an 8-0 run to take the lead 41-34 after the Colonials made several mistakes in a few minutes of play.

In the first half, Wright State did not make a single three point shot, only attempting three in the half. However, they shot at a 57.6% clip in the first half, much better than RMU’s 45.2% at halftime.

RMU struggled to open the second half being outscored 12-5 while committing five fouls very quickly in a three minute timeframe.

After a Trey James layup, Enoch Cheeks got a steal and took it the other way for an easy two points to make it a ten point game. Cheeks followed that up with a three pointer soon after to cut the game to 53-46.

After a free throw from Spear made it 53-47 Cheeks made another play, with a converted and-one that made it just a three point game. Cheeks was subbed out soon after.

With Cheeks on the bench Michael Green took over with an outstanding pass to set up Mayers for a game-tying layup and then hitting a three to give the Colonials a lead 56-53, UPMC Events Center erupted.

After the 17-0 run, Wright State responded with a short 7-2 run before Mayers would make a layup to tie the game at 60. After that, Enoch Cheeks made it known he was back in the game with a pull up mid-range jumper to give the Colonials a 62-60 lead.

Colonials Nation, you may want to look away. After RMU took the lead, Wright State outscored the Colonials 22-5 to close out the game. This completely iced the game and made it impossible for the Colonials to make any kind of a comeback.

It was a frustrating game for the Colonials where after making great plays to get back in the game, RMU would allow runs that cut deep and eventually would end the game for them.

The star of the game was Trey Calvin for Wright State. He made several mid-range jumpers and one of the teams two threes on the way to 24 points on the night to lead Wright State to a key win.

RMU has a bit of a break after a long home stretch of games and their next action is on Saturday, Feb. 10, at Cleveland State.