3-pointer in closing seconds sends Robert Morris to Horizon quarters

Michael Green III cherishes his role as sixth man on the Robert Morris men’s basketball team. On Tuesday night, the Colonials senior guard played like No. 1.

Green’s 3-point shot with two seconds left lifted Robert Morris to a 67-64 victory over IUPUI in a Horizon League Tournament first-round game at UPMC Events Center as the Colonials had revenge in mind during their first conference tournament home game in three years.

“Shout out to my teammates and coaches for believing in me in giving me the ball at the end,” Green said.

Denied a chance at a first-round bye when upset last week in their final regular-season game by last-place IUPUI, the sixth-seeded Colonials this time held off the 11th-seeded Jaguars.

Thanks to Green’s late heroics.

“We drew up the play in the timeout, which was for (Kahliel Spear) to come set the step up screen,” Green said. “By the time I got to half court, there was about seven seconds. I felt like I made the right read and made the big shot. Tried to stay poised.”

Spear scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds — his 13th double-double of the season — and Green added 16 points to pace Robert Morris (16-16) in its first Horizon tournament home game.

The victory advanced the Colonials into the quarterfinals Thursday night at No. 3 Cleveland State, which, as the top seed last season, eliminated then-No. 10 seed Robert Morris, 83-67, in the quarterfinals.

“We know that’s where our season ended last year and none of us are trying to have that same feeling this year,” Spear said.

Freshman Stephaun Walker added 12 points and nine rebounds for Robert Morris.

Jlynn Counter led IUPUI (5-26) with 25 points.

Robert Morris, despite being outshot in the first half, built a 34-20 halftime lead. The Colonials, who made just 2 of 11 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes and finished 7 for 25 for the game, watched their lead dwindle in the second half.

When point guard Enoch Cheeks went out with his fifth foul with 32 seconds left and Robert Morris leading 63-57, the Colonials turned tentative on offense.

“For some of these guys, as much as they’ve been part of good teams in college basketball, they haven’t been in those moments yet,” Robert Morris coach Andy Toole said. “As much as guys don’t want to admit it, it’s different. You’ve got to be super strong and you’ve got to be really well versed in what you’ve got to do. There was certainly a little bit of tense moments there at the end. Fortunately, we were able to get over the hump. But, obviously, having Enoch not in the game there at the end was tough.”

After Counter made two free throws for IUPUI, he stole the ball and converted a three-point play with 22 seconds remaining to cut the Jaguars’ deficit to 63-62.

Robert Morris’ Jackson Last was fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws to give the Colonials a 64-62 advantage, but Counter responded with a driving layup with 10 seconds to go to pull IUPUI into a 64-64 tie, setting the stage for Green’s winning shot.

Green finished 4-of-8 shooting overall, making 4 of 7 from 3-point range.

“He had three huge 3s in the second half that gave us a little bit of a cushion,” Toole said. “Obviously, the last one was the biggest. That’s where it’s so valuable to have a guy like Mike and have him do what he does with his experience, with his skill set, his ability to make plays. He made a season-saving play tonight.”

It continued a string of five consecutive double-figure games for Green, who has averaged 8.8 points in 26 minutes per game with just three starts.

“My role is to lead and provide whatever isn’t being provided on the court at the time,” Green said. “If we need scoring, that’s what I’m there to do. If we need facilitating when we have guys like Josh Corbin, Enoch Cheeks and Kahliel Spears scoring the ball, then my job is to make it easier by facilitating.”

A pair of Green 3-pointers pushed Robert Morris’ lead back to double digits (48-37) midway through the second half after IUPUI closed within four points.

The RMU lead reached 60-48 with 3:19 remaining on 1 of 2 free throws by Chris Ford. But IUPUI scored seven unanswered points to get within 60-55 before Green converted two free throws.

IUPUI again got within four points with 32 seconds left on two free throws by Counter.

Robert Morris managed two victories in three games this season against IUPUI, but it wasn’t easy. A 77-70 home win Jan. 9 preceded an 81-75 loss Thursday in Indianapolis in the Colonials’ previous game. It spoiled RMU’s final opportunity to secure a tournament first-round bye.

“Short-term memory,” Spear said of the team’s latest victory. “Ultimately, we had to play, but our goal initially was a bye. So, we didn’t even want to play today. But we got the job done. We did what we had to and we play again (Thursday). There’s not any time for us to rejoice over this win. We did that in the locker room. We’ve got to get some recovery and be ready to go.”

The victory made a success of Robert Morris’ first conference tournament home game since a 77-67 victory over St. Francis (Pa.) at UPMC Events Center in the 2020 tournament championship game in Robert Morris’ final season in the Northeast Conference.

The Horizon League Tournament was among just four conference tournaments underway, joining the Atlantic Sun, Patriot and Sun Belt.

The Big South, Northeast and Ohio Valley begin Wednesday.