RMU Crushes Wagner 91-59
MOON TOWNSHIP (93-7 The Fan) - Rodney Pryor led Robert Morris University to a 91-59 win over Wagner with 25 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.
The Colonials improved their overall record to 15-14 and 11-6 in the North East Conference with just one game left before the start of the NEC Tournament.
A dominating offensive performance and tough defense proved to be the difference maker in the win. RMU shot 54.1 percent from the field and forced 19 turnovers against Wagner.
RMU coach Andy Toole said that solid defense on the Seahawks' leading scorer, Marcus Burton was also a big key to winning the game. Burton averages 18.6 PPG for the Seahawks, but was held to just 6 points at The Sewall Center.
"I thought we did a good job of making him take some tough shots and not allowing him good looks from three to get him started," Toole said.
The Colonials came out strong offensively and quickly developed a 10 point lead 10 minutes into the game and it just kept getting better from there for RMU.
Rodney Pryor sank a contested fade away 3-pointer to give RMU a 40-22 lead over Wagner with under 5 to go in the first.
The Colonials had a 44-29 lead at half time and came out even stronger in the second half, something that Toole was pleased to see.
"I thought we did a great job coming out of the second half and having the same urgency that in games past we haven't had, which is hopefully a good sign moving forward," Toole said.
Another refreshing site to see was a solid performance off the bench from senior forward Lucky Jones. He's one of RMU's leading scorers and he hasn't started a game since the 63-62 loss to LIU Brooklyn on Feb. 12. Jones was suspended for the following game against Central Connecticut State for violating team rules and has been playing off the bench since then.
Jones scored 15 points and pulled down 8 rebounds in the win. Toole said he thinks Jones plays more relaxed off the bench and at times is one of the best players in the NEC.
"I think his communication to his teammates the last two games has been terrific and I think his shot selection has been very good and you see some of the effort plays and a couple of the offensive rebounds he got tonight, that's vintage Luck," Toole said. "And we haven't necessarily seen that all year long and it would be nice to see that the rest of the way out."
RMU shot 63.6 percent (14-22) from behind the arc including 5-6 from Rodney Pryor.
Freshman Marcquise Reed scored 20 points and Elijah Minnie contributed 13.
The Colonials match up against Saint Francis University on Saturday at 4 p.m. at The Sewall Center.
