Robert Morris traveled to Fayetteville to face No. 19 Arkansas Wednesday evening, including the head coach of the Razorbacks and Moon Township native, John Calipari.
The Colonials gave Arkansas a good fight in the first half. The Razorbacks did not take their first lead until the 11:20 mark of the frame, and Robert Morris held a five-point advantage twice early on.
RMU kept it to a single-digit deficit at halftime, entering the break trailing 39-30, but it was once again the second half that sunk the Colonials.
Arkansas pulled away with a 37-23 second-half deficit, putting things out of reach for the Colonials at Bud Walton Arena, to the tune of a 76-53 final score.
Wednesday evening was the Colonials’ second ever trip to Fayetteville, and first since 2012-13, when they narrowly lost to Arkansas 79-74. Last night’s loss makes Robert Morris 0-2 all time against the Razorbacks.
Leading the scoring for Robert Morris was Ace Valentine, who achieved his first double-digit game in a Colonials uniform. Valentine notched 13 points with five assists, two steals and a rebound. The UMBC transfer scored in double figures 21 times last season with the Retrievers.
Behind Valentine, KJ Garris Jr. kept up his hot start to the season, recording double-digit points for the third consecutive night. Garris Jr. matched his total from the UIC game with 11 points against the Razorbacks, as well as three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
The third and final Colonial to score in double figures was Darius Livingston, notching his best game of the season offensively thus far with 10 points scored. Livingston also had two assists and a rebound.
Jalik Dunkley returned after missing the UIC game last Friday night, scoring six points on three-of-five shooting in 19 minutes played.
Robert Morris, as a team, was limited significantly underneath the glass, being out-rebounded 45 to 21 by Arkansas. The Colonials, however, tallied the same number of turnovers as the Razorbacks, with each squad totaling 10.
RMU also struggled from downtown as a team, making just eight of 27 attempts from beyond the arc (29.6%). The Colonials shot 19-for-51 from the field (37.3%).
Arkansas’ standouts offensively were Billy Richmond III and Davion Thompson, combining for 31 of the Razorbacks’ 76 points. Cooper Bowser recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards.
Up Next
The Colonials will host Capital for their 2026-27 home opener on Sunday, November 15, with tip off scheduled for 2 p.m.
Following Sunday, the next home game for Robert Morris will be against Horizon League foe Youngstown State on Saturday, December 5 at 1 p.m.
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