Robert Morris loses exhibition to Villanova ahead of season opener

Robert Morris fell to Villanova on Sunday in a charity exhibition tune-up for the Colonials’ regular-season men’s basketball opener next week at West Virginia.

Despite three RMU players scoring in double figures, led by Josh Omojafo’s 15 points, the Colonials came away an 87-73 loser to the Wildcats at Finneran Pavilion in Villanova.

The Colonials, picked ninth in the 11-team Horizon League preseason poll, open their regular-season schedule Nov. 4 with a trip to WVU Coliseum to face the Mountaineers.

Eric Dixon’s 28 points led Villanova, which was picked to finished seventh among 11 teams in the Big East preseason coaches’ poll.

Jordan Longino added 21 points and Enoch Boakye finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Jhamir Brickus netted 10 assists for the Wildcats.

Kam Woods and Alvaro Folgueiras scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds apiece for Robert Morris, which was dominated on the boards, 51-27.

Omojafo, who shot 5 for 9, is one of five new Robert Morris transfers and was the second-leading scorer in the Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference last season while at Gannon.

Woods, another transfer, played in 18 games for North Carolina State’s Final Four team that appeared in NCAA Tournament first- and second-round games in March at PPG Paints Arena.

The 6-foot-9 Folgueiras, who averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds last season as a freshman, is among seven returning players for Robert Morris.