Bench-clearing skirmish leaves both teams short-handed as RMU loses to Jacksonville

Robert Morris and Jacksonville got together Friday ready to play a college basketball game at UPMC Events Center. Neither team figured on coming away with an empty bench.

Robert Morris certainly didn’t want to drop its third consecutive game, either.

Unfortunately for the Colonials, both came true.

Playing the final 6 minutes, 23 seconds with five players on each team, Jacksonville bested Robert Morris, 74-65, behind Robert McCray V’s 25 points on the first day of the three-day Urban-Bennett Memorial Classic. The game was delayed 16 minutes by a second-half skirmish during a timeout at midcourt.

“It was a disappointing game, an emotional game,” said Robert Morris coach Andy Toole, who, along with Jacksonville coach Jordan Mincy, was hit with a technical foul after both benches emptied when players got tangled heading to the sideline.

“It got competitive, chippy, and, unfortunately, it happened at the wrong time during a media timeout, when all of a sudden you cross paths and there’s a couple bumps. It just kind of turned into nonsense. It’s not how we wanted to behave.”

TJ Wainwright of Robert Morris and Marcus Niblack of Jacksonville also were assessed technical fouls. No punches were thrown, and no free throws were attempted, but every player on both benches charged the floor and was ejected in accordance NCAA rules, leaving both teams with just five players each for the remainder of the game.

“I’m embarrassed just for the actions that occurred throughout the course of the game,” Mincy said. “It’s one of those moments where your adrenaline is going and you get so caught up in the emotions. We talk to our guys about controlling theirs. But, at the same time, we know they have each other’s back. It’s such a fine line.”

In the meantime, McCray, a Wake Forest transfer, shot 9 for 14 and registered six assists and four steals for Jacksonville, a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

“It was a good basketball game,” Mincy said. “I hate that (the incident) is going to be the highlight of the game. Robert Morris has a great coaching staff, and they run great plays. Coach Toole does a great job with his guys and makes sure they have high character. It’s a blessing to be here playing in a great tournament.”

Bryce Workman added 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting to go with seven rebounds, Niblack finished with 13 points and five of Jacksonville’s 12 steals and the Dolphins (3-2) shot 55.6% (30 for 54).

Despite, the ruckus, Jacksonville’s second trip in eight days to Allegheny County turned out much better than the first. The Dolphins were blown out by Pitt, 107-56, on Nov. 17 at Petersen Events Center.

“By far, this was a better trip,” It’s more enjoyable being on the winning side,” Mincy said. “I was nervous getting on the flight to Pitt, and when then we got here, I just remember looking at the scoreboard and it was 24-4. This time, there was a flashback seeing that Pitt game. I was thinking maybe Pittsburgh’s got our number. But our guys didn’t show any effects at all.”

Robert Morris (1-4) committed 20 turnovers, 12 in the first half, and still led 31-29 at halftime. The Colonials trailed for much of the second half but on several occasions were close to taking a lead.

After order was restored after the incident and with Jacksonville leading 53-52, Toole attempted to rally his players.

“I just told them what we tell them all the time,” he said. “True toughness is doing your job the right way. Bumping somebody or pushing somebody or talking to somebody is nice, but true toughness is being in your gap and executing your formula and doing it over and over and over and over. We were doing it a little prior to the incident, and afterwards it just kind of broke down.”

Jacksonville outscored Robert Morris, 21-13, the rest of the way.

The Colonials, who shot 47.1% (24 for 51), were led by Markeese Hastings’ 19 points. Justice Williams added 11, and Josh Corbin, back after a two-game absence because of an injury, scored 10.

The multi-team event continues Saturday with Jacksonville taking on Fairleigh Dickinson at 4 p.m. and concludes Sunday with Robert Morris entertaining FDU at 2 p.m.