Ryan Prather Jr. celebrated Thanksgiving early Wednesday afternoon, pouring in a career-high 25 points to lead Robert Morris to an 88-74 victory over the visiting University of Illinois-Chicago Flames at the UPMC Events Center.
The Colonials improved to 4-3 on the season and were coming off a tough 71-70 overtime loss to Monmouth Sunday in New Jersey.
UIC, from the Missouri Valley Conference, dropped to 4-3.
RMU took control early, jumping to an 18-8 first-half lead a little less than seven minutes into the game. The Colonials continued to build on that lead and owned a 50-29 advantage at halftime.
RMU widened its lead to 53-29 early in the second half and the closest UIC came was 12 points with about 7 minutes remaining in the game.
DeSean Goode added 17 points for Robert Morris, Albert Vargas contributed 13 points and eight assists and Darius Livingston added 10 points and six rebounds.
In Sunday’s loss to Monmouth, the game was close throughout the first half as was evident in the 36-35 Monmouth halftime lead.
The second half was no different, and the two teams found themselves tied at 60 at the end of regulation. The Colonials appeared to have the game in hand several times, but the Hawks fought back. In overtime, RMU failed to score in the final two minutes and missed two last-second shots, which sealed the win for Monmouth.
The Hawks, from the Coastal Athletic Conference, were led by Stefanos Spartalis, who had 18 points and hit the game-winning free throws with nine seconds left in overtime.
Goode had a double-double for the Colonials with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Livingston added 17 points. Nikolaus Chitikoudis had 12 points and seven rebounds while Prather pitched in 12 points.
The Colonials will next see action this weekend in the Urban-Bennett Invitational MTE Hosted by P3R. The tournament will be held at the UPMC Events Center.
Robert Morris will battle Southern Utah (2-5) at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, and then meet Stetson (3-3) at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30.
Southern Utah is scheduled to play Stetson at 2 p.m. Saturday.
RMU women fall to host Eastern Michigan, 64-54
The Colonials came up short in a 64-54 battle with Eastern Michigan Wednesday in Ypsilanti, Mich.
The Eagles held the Colonials to six first-quarter points as they shot 15% from the floor, converting just 2 of 13 shots. Eastern Michigan led 16-6 after one quarter but the Colonials trimmed the margin to six points at halftime.
RMU saw its deficit climb to 13 in the third quarter before pulling to within eight heading into the final quarter. The Colonials narrowed the deficit to three with 9 minutes, 4 seconds remaining at 40-37, but Eastern Michigan regained control and went on to win.
Bailey Kuhns led RMU with 25 points and seven rebounds.
The Colonials’ only previous loss came at the hands of the University of Pittsburgh (4-2), 63-54, Saturday at the Petersen Events Center in Oakland. The “City Game” between the crosstown rivals started off well for RMU as it jumped out to a 38-27 halftime lead.
The second half went to the Panthers from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as they held RMU to only 17 points. Mikayla Johnson led Pitt with a game-high 20 points. Aislin Malcolm and Jada Lee had 11 points each for the Colonials.
RMU returns to action Wednesday, Dec. 3, against Mercyhurst in Erie.
(Freelance writer Rock DiLisio contributed to this story.)
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