Colonials Corner

Robert Morris stole a win Saturday against Wagner, and the players and coaching staff know it. Down by 10 early, the Colonials rallied by halftime and held on for a nail biter of a 73-70 win.

“I think Wagner outplayed us in every facet of the game except the final score,” head coach Mike Rice said. “They certainly were more prepared, wanted it more, and we looked like a team that won a big game on Thursday and didn’t respond on Saturday very well.”

With Rob Robinson continuing to struggle – no points in the first half, finished with nine and just one rebound – the Colonials were bailed out by unlikely hero Dallas Green (12 points), senior guard Mezie Nwigwe (12 points), and Gary Wallace (12 points).

“We have some seniors not taking care of certain responsibilities that they should be taking care of,” Rice said. “I’m more concerned with Rob’s lack of rebounding and his lack of effort on the glass than free throws. He’s a senior and he has to do more for us. If he’s playing 35 minutes, he needs more than one rebound and not go 3 for 12 from the line. But that’s on me. That’s a mistake by the head coach.”

The normally free wheeling substitution guru took a backseat in the second half as Rice shortened his bench. Robinson, Green, and Russell Johnson took the significant minutes in side (minus a brief 3 minute appearance by Brad Piehl) while Karon Abraham and Gary Wallace spelled Nwigwe, Jimmy Langhurst, and Velton Jones.

“It was probably my security blanket with some of my seniors. I just kind of wanted to grind one out and find a way to win,” Rice explained. “In the back of my mind, I think they should know how to respond to this. Some of them did, some of them didn’t.”

The players recognized the atmosphere was different instantly. Wallace pointed out that something was amiss beginning at the morning shootaround. He, Green, Nwigwe, and Langhurst each said that the team was so amped for Mount St. Mary’s that the Colonials nearly got caught thinking they could ease by the winless Seahawks.

As Green said, “We have to get pumped for every game”.

Robert Morris will return to action after finals week with another rivalry game against Duquesne. That tips off at 7pm at the A.J. Palumbo Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The Colonials will enter the final bit of non-conference action in first place in the NEC, although they have some interesting counterparts up top. Long Island shook off some preseason injuries and is 2-0, 4-3 overall. And St. Francis Pa. – yes, the Red Flash – are 2-0 after sending Mount St. Mary’s to a surprising loss. The Flash are 2-0 in the NEC for the first time since 2001-2002. Don’t count out the Mount, though, as they started 0-3 in the NEC last year before ending up in the championship game.