One of these years, a college basketball team from Pittsburgh is going to have their way with Villanova in the NCAA tournament. But much like last year, the Wildcats ended up breaking the hearts of many a-Yinzer when all was said and done.Despite leading for most of the game, Robert Morris ultimately came up short in their David vs. Goliath matchup, losing 73-70 in an overtime contest that had the attention of the entire nation. RMU would have been the fifth 15-seed to beat a two-seed and the first team to do so since 2001, when Hampton knocked off Iowa State.
The leading scorer for Nova? That would be the one, the only Scottie Reynolds, who finished with 20 points and hit seven of eight free throws in the final 3:06. Reynolds was benched by Coach Jay Wright to start the game and shot just 2-for-15 on the afternoon, but made the freebies when he needed to. Robert Morris was whistled for 31 fouls in the game, as compared to just 19 for Villanova.
Karon Abraham led the Colonials with 23 points, electrifying the Providence crowd and turning the audience (and most of the nation) into Robert Morris fans, at least for an afternoon. Mezie Nwigwe added 13 points for RMU, and Dallas Green led the team with seven rebounds.
The Colonials will probably regret coming so close, especially after having a lead as high as nine points over the Wildcats, but this was a Herculean effort nonetheless. Their players are surely hurting now, but they certainly made themselves known on this afternoon. Robert Morris finished the season 23-12 overall and 15-3 in the NEC, with a conference title. And if Coach Mike Rice weren't already such a rising star in the ranks, he is after this.
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1 comment:
Scottie Reynolds goes to the foul line if someone sneezes on him or looks at him mean. And the few times he doesn't get a call, he cries incessantly to the refs.
Can't wait until he's off playing in Europe and I don't have to see him again....
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