Robert Morris loses another close game to Horizon League favorite Cleveland State
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Another chance, another close loss. Not that the outcome of every Robert Morris men’s basketball game has come down to the final minutes, but the Colonials sure have been in their share of heartbreakers.
Add Sunday’s rematch with Horizon League favorite Cleveland State to the list.
D’Moi Hodge scored 22 points, and Torrey Patton added 21 to lead the Vikings to a 75-68 victory over Robert Morris at Wolstein Center in Cleveland, the Colonials’ seventh single-digit defeat in a season of close calls.
Robert Morris (3-16, 1-9) also dropped a 78-77 decision to Cleveland State on Jan. 7 at UPMC Events Center.
“We just have to keep trying to fight to get better,” Robert Morris coach Andy Toole said.
Tre Gomillion chipped in 19 points for Cleveland State (13-4, 9-1), the defending Horizon champion and overwhelming favorite to repeat this season.
Junior forward Brandon Stone, the La Salle transfer who began his high school career at Southmoreland, led Robert Morris with a season-high 14 points off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting.
Enoch Cheeks and Michael Green III added 13 points apiece and Williams finished with 11 for the Colonials, who return home from a short, two-game road trip to face Milwaukee on Thursday night at UPMC Events Center.
Robert Morris was playing its second consecutive game without sophomore guard Kam Farris, the team’s third-leading scorer, who did not make the trip because of a non-covid illness.
“Even if we’re fully healthy, you have to give credit to what Cleveland State does,” Toole said. “Everyone contributes in a positive way and has an impact on the game. It’s why they’re the defending champions. They just keep playing and continue to do what they do.”
Robert Morris held Cleveland State scoreless over the final 2 minutes, 12 seconds of the first half to take a 35-30 halftime lead before increasing the margin early in the second half to 38-30 on Jaron Williams’ three-point play.
Green’s 3-point shot with 8:37 left gave Robert Morris a 58-55 advantage, but the Colonials went cold and didn’t score another field goal until Stone’s dunk with 27 seconds to go as Cleveland State used a 15-4 run to grab a 70-62 lead.
The Vikings converted 10 of 14 free throws in the final 4:47.
“Eventually, we showed some cracks,” Toole said, “especially in ball security, and it made it a challenge to get over the top. We got worn down a bit by their physicality and their size. Our guys are obviously frustrated, but we have to be so in tune and locked into the little details. If we don’t, teams take advantage of you.”
Robert Morris committed 19 turnovers, 10 more than Cleveland State.
Aside from a 24-point loss Friday at Purdue Fort Wayne, the Colonials since Jan. 5 had played five consecutive Horizon games decided by 10 points or less, including four straight losses by an average of 3.3 points.
The other outcome during the stretch was a 74-64 victory over Wright State on Jan. 13, which represents Robert Morris’ lone Horizon win this season and just the fourth in two years since the Colonials left the Northeast Conference after winning the 2019-20 championship.
The jump to the Horizon has not been easy for Toole’s club, but he said he doesn’t want to become discouraged and hopes it rubs off on his players.
Sunday’s seven-point setback is just their latest frustration.
“We did a better job (Sunday) in playing with purpose and making sure we were connected,” he said. “When you’re intentional about doing the right thing, that’s what is going to give you a chance at the end.”