Robert Morris University’s hopes of returning to the Barbasol Horizon League Championship Game were shattered by the University of Detroit Mercy in the Semifinal Round of the Horizon League Tournament at Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis.
The 70-64 defeat for the Colonials marks their first loss since Jan. 31.
Robert Morris struggled beyond the arc as a team with a combined 22.7 shooting percentage to end the night, which tied the lowest mark of the season.
After the game head coach Andrew Toole said although the team had good offensive looks at points in the contest, the Colonials were unable to convert on their possessions.
“That was really a frustration for us, because during the majority of the year we were able to make some of those shots, and tonight, it didn’t happen for us,” Toole said.
Although RMU held the advantage to end the half 36-33, UDM outscored the team in the second period 37-28. Valiant efforts from Lance Stone and Orlando Lovejoy paved the way to its best offensive showcase of the season, as the duo tallied 37 points in the contest.
Robert Morris’s leading scorer in Ryan Prather Jr. was held below his season average of 15.7 points per game. The Titans defense limited the redshirt junior to 11 points, despite scoring 24 points in the First Round of the Horizon League Tournament.
The Horizon League men’s Basketball Player of the Year in Desean Goode went to work against Detroit Mercy as he netted 14 points and recorded 10 rebounds for a double-double.
In total four players reached double figures Nikolaos Chitikoudis and Darius Livingston had 13 and 11 points, respectively.
With a heartbreaking loss, Prather Jr. spoke on his time at Robert Morris and the impact that the program and coaching staff had on him in his first year with the team.
“[Toole] helped me tremendously. I was super uncomfortable in the summertime, beginning of the season, but he put me in those positions to help get comfortable, and without that, I wouldn’t have been able to grow,” Prather Jr. said.
RMU finishes its season with a 22-11 overall record and a 13-7 mark in Horizon League play.
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