Robert Morris stomps Milwaukee, avenges defeat

In the days of the Northeast Conference, not too very long ago, it would have been a rare occasion for NBA scouts to attend a Robert Morris basketball game. In the higher-profile Horizon League, the Colonials’ home since 2020, it also isn’t an every-day occurrence.

But, while both conferences have produced NBA players — Robert Morris associate head coach Mike Iuzzolino played two NBA seasons after leading St. Francis (Pa.) of the NEC to its only NCAA Tournament appearance in 1991 — the Horizon annually is the better bet.

Scouts from four NBA teams originally planned a visit to UPMC Events Center on Thursday night to watch Milwaukee freshman phenom Patrick Baldwin Jr., who has been in and out of the Panthers’ lineup all year, playing in just eight games overall and two against Horizon League opponents.

One of those league appearances came in a victory over Robert Morris.

But what a difference the absence of Baldwin Jr. made in the Colonials’ 77-53 rout of the Panthers on Thursday behind a career-high 25 points from senior Kahliel Spear.

“Probably our best performance of the season on the defensive side in terms of consistency for a full 40 minutes,” Robert Morris coach Andy Toole said, also acknowledging the absence of Baldwin Jr. this time.

Baldwin Jr., who has been dogged by a stubborn calf injury, simply annihilated Robert Morris in their first meeting.

“He killed us the first time,” Toole said.

More than a month earlier, it was a far different look from Milwaukee in the Panthers’ 77-69 victory on Dec. 4 at Milwaukee’s UWM Panther Arena.

In that one — one of six single-digit conference losses for Robert Morris — Baldwin Jr. turned in 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one turnover in 29 minutes. Of his nine field goals, Baldwin Jr. made all six of his 3-point shots.

Without Baldwin Jr.’s services in the latest meeting, Milwaukee struggled. Even though in spite of him being out of the lineup, the Panthers recently upset Horizon League leader Oakland, handing the Golden Grizzlies their first conference loss.

“He hasn’t been with them a lot,” Toole said. “He came back just in time for us the first time. He’s a tremendous player, and it’s unfortunate for them. Obviously, it’s hard for them to get their rhythm. He’s someone they rely on greatly but just hasn’t been able to get himself on the floor and show what he’s capable of.”

Spear shot 11 for 14 and grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds for the Colonials, who never trailed after the midway-point of the first half and enjoyed their largest margin of 30 points (67-37) in the second.

“We’ve been trying to get him to be more decisive in his offensive plays, and he was a lot more decisive tonight,” Toole said. “The longer you hold the ball, the longer help has to come. Some of his drives were impressive drives to the basket. He either forced help or created an advantage for himself. He seemed to be everywhere, a very impressive performance.”

Spear credited the coaching staff for its persistence. He said the team knows “we’ve got something good going on here. We really believe in ourselves.”

Said Toole: “It was huge to be able to get a win like this. Guys were excited. It’s something we haven’t experienced in the Horizon League before. Hopefully, if we realize we can follow the formula and stay together and share the ball and give ourselves a chance, possession by possession, maybe we can become a dangerous team down the stretch.”

Michael Green III added 13 points for Robert Morris, (4-16, 2-9) which shot 42.0 % and dominated the boards, outrebounding Milwaukee, 52-36. Enoch Cheeks added eight rebounds, and Matt Mayers grabbed seven for Robert Morris.

Joey St. Pierre, a 6-10, 255-pound junior, led Milwaukee (7-14, 5-7) with nine points and seven rebounds. Jordan Lathon tied Spear with a game-high nine rebounds for the Panthers, who shot 1 for 12 from 3-point range.

Robert Morris held DeAndre Gholston, Milwaukee’s leading scorer (15.6 ppg.), to eight points on 3-of-12 shooting, the fourth time in 20 games that the 6-5 junior has failed to reach double digits this season.

“They have some other really talented guys,” Toole said. “DeAndre Gholston and Josh Thomas (six points) have been playing really well. But I thought we made them work for baskets, made it hard on them to get to spots on the floor that they’re accustomed to.

“Guys guarded the ball better and did a good job of standing tall and being strong in the paint and really guarding the entire half court. Credit to our guys for the effort they made on that side of the floor. Hopefully, it can be something we can build on.”

Without Baldwin Jr., Milwaukee was listless. The Panthers missed the former consensus five-star recruit and former ESPN nationally ranked No. 1 high school player in 2021, who endured a season-ending ankle injury early in his final year at Hamilton Sussex (Wis.), denying him a chance at 2,000 career points.

His bio states he chose Milwaukee “so he could play for his father,” Milwaukee coach Pat Baldwin, a former Northwestern assistant who was a standout guard with the Badgers from 1990-94 and is the school’s career steals leader (272). He also ranks second all-time in assists (452) and 20th in scoring (1,189).

Robert Morris remains at home Saturday to face Green Bay before visiting Illinois-Chicago on Thursday.