Kahliel Spear scores 27 points to lead Robert Morris past Youngstown State

Dave Mackall | Sunday, February 13, 2022 3:04 p.m.

Robert Morris’ Kahliel Spear made 10 of 11 shots to lead the team past Youngstown State on Sunday.

Robert Morris finally found a way to win a close basketball game Sunday after falling short in nine of its first 10 single-digit decisions.

Kahliel Spear scored a career-high 27 points, and the Colonials rode their hot second-half shooting to rally from a 10-point deficit and beat Youngstown State, 73-68, at Beeghley Center in Youngstown, Ohio, ending the Penguins’ six-game winning streak.

“Really proud of these guys’ efforts. It wasn’t always pretty but much happier to be up by five than down by five,” Robert Morris coach Andy Toole said.

Robert Morris (7-19, 5-12 Horizon League) connected on 17 of 27 second-half shots (63.0%) and finished at 53.1% overall, led by Spear’s 10-for-11 showing that included a pair of three-point plays in the final 8 minutes.

“Can’t say enough about Kahliel’s effort,” Toole said. “A couple of those three-point plays late, we needed every one.”

The Colonials improved to 2-6 in outcomes decided by five points or fewer, avenging one of those losses, a 64-60 decision to the Penguins on Jan. 5 at UPMC Events Center.

Robert Morris, playing its third game in five days, won for just the second time in 11 single-digit decisions.

“For us to be able to execute the way we did in the second half is how you’re going to be able to win,” Toole said. “No one’s going to give it to you. You’ve got to take it and make it happen. The guys certainly did that, and I’m really proud of them.”

The Colonials trailed 64-54 with 7 minutes, 1 second left before using a 12-0 run, capped by Kam Farris’ 3-point shot, to seize a 66-64 lead, just their second of the game.

The lead flipped back and forth until Robert Morris went ahead for good on 1 of 2 free throws by Farris, giving the Colonials’ a 69-68 advantage with 1:07 to go.

Robert Morris closed out the game outscoring Youngstown State, 19-4, to end a two-game losing streak.

The Colonials were coming off another close decision, a 71-68 home loss to Oakland on Friday.

Michael Green III added 14 points, Matt Mayers 11 and Farris 10 for Robert Morris, which returns to UPMC Events Center to play its final two regular-season games Thursday against IUPUI and Saturday against Illinois-Chicago.

Youngstown State (16-11, 10-7), which hadn’t lost since Jan. 23, was led by Dayton transfer Dwayne Cohill’s 18 points.

Myles Hunter added 14, Tevin Ollison 12 and Michael Akuchie 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Penguins, who entertain Illinois-Chicago on Thursday.

“Youngstown has been playing so well,” Toole said. “They played so well for 30 minutes of this game, and we were able to step up and change that momentum and make the plays that were necessary. For us to shoot 63% in the second half is hard when you’re playing in the third game of the week.”