RMU holds off Iona for 72-66 triumph
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Robert Morris, ahead by 11 points with five minutes left, hung on at the free-throw line and held off Iona, 72-66, last night at the Sewall Center in Moon, giving Mike Rice a win in his head coaching debut.
"This was real important for him and for us," said senior guard Tony Lee, who presented Rice with the game ball.
"Here you go, coach Rice -- the ball from your first official win," Rice said in his presentation.
Rice's reaction?
"He was jumping around like a little kid," Lee said.
"Unbelievable," said Rice, a former Pitt assistant. "Tony was wonderful. The thing is, it gets this out of the way. Now let's improve."
The Colonials didn't shoot well -- 41 percent from the field, 24 percent from 3-point range and 59 percent at the free-throw line.
"And we didn't rebound very well," Rice said. "But this team still found a way defensively to win."
Robert Morris made just one field goal in the final five minutes -- a rebound basket by Freddie Harris with 1:18 remaining -- but dropped in five free throws in the final 31/2 minutes.
In the final 1:46, the Colonials also got a key block by Dallas Green, an important steal by Lee and a crucial rebound by Lee. That rebound with 12 seconds left led to the clinching.
With the Colonials up, 69-66, Lee drew a foul and made the front end of a one-and-one with eight seconds left. Bateko Francisco rebounded, and A.J. Jackson was fouled.
Jackson's two free throws accounted for the final score, which ruined former Pitt player Kevin Willard's head coaching debut.
Jeremy Chappell, who didn't start, led the Colonials with 20 points. Rice might use the junior as an offensive spark off the bench, although Chappell possibly will start at Navy.
"I love Jeremy coming off the bench," Rice said. "It will be a game-to-game decision."
"Whatever role he wants," Chappell said. "Whatever's better for the team is OK with me. Last year, we didn't have a scoring threat off the bench."
Green, a 6-foot-8 sophomore who played sparingly last season, provided a spark off the bench with 10 points and six rebounds.
"Whenever A.J. gets tired, I'll fill in," Green said.
Lee finished with 7 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals.
NOTES -- Mezie Nwigwe (tailbone) and Iffy Ehirim (concussion) were scratches for Robert Morris last night. Nwigwe might be able to play Wednesday at Navy; Ehirim should be able to play against Navy. ... Jimmy Langhurst, probably Robert Morris' best pure shooter, had a rough time in his first collegiate start, going 0 for 5 from the field, including 0 for 4 from 3-point range. ... Iona, which shot 28 percent from 3-point range last season, last night was 10 of 19 (52.6) from beyond the arc.
First Published November 11, 2007 12:38 am
