Robert Morris men score most lopsided Horizon League win, 92-48 over IUPUI

Another season of struggles in the Horizon League provided a reprieve for Robert Morris on Thursday night at UPMC Events Center as the Colonials scored their most lopsided victory against a conference opponent in four seasons in the league.

Josh Corbin’s 15 points led six RMU players in double figures in a 92-48 rout of IUPUI.

“It was by far our best consistency, defensively,” Robert Morris coach Andy Toole said. “I just thought it all started on the defensive side.”

The 44-point spread represents the largest margin in a Horizon League victory for the Colonials, shattering the old mark of 34 in a 72-38 decision at Green Bay on Jan. 21, 2023.

It served as a blatant contrast to Robert Morris’ first four Horizon League outcomes this season, losses averaging 13 points.

“I certainly was nervous coming into tonight,” Toole said. “We were down 18-4 at Milwaukee and ended up tying it at 71 (before losing, 78-75, on Dec. 29), and we got the lead at the half at Green Bay and just couldn’t sustain the effort (in a 78-61 loss on Dec. 31). So I didn’t necessarily know how we were going to respond.”

Corbin shot 6 for 13 and added seven rebounds and five assists for Robert Morris (5-11, 1-4), which ended a three-game skid.

Markeese Hastings added 14 points to go with eight rebounds, and Justice Williams (12) and Stephaun Walker, TJ Wainwright and Chris Ford (10 each) also reached double digits for the Colonials, who entered the year attempting to build on their only non-losing record (10-10) in the Horizon last season since joining in 2020-21.

Vincent Brady II and DJ Jackson led IUPUI (5-11, 1-4) with 12 points each.

The Colonials’ latest effort must become “the norm instead of the exception to the rule,” Toole said. “Our ball movement was good, and we did a good job playing inside-out, getting in the paint and finding good opportunities. We played unselfish.”

While Toole, at times, has been encouraged, he expressed frustration with the Colonials’ overall struggles.

“It’s a little bit of an embarrassment that we can’t always give the effort that’s required,” he said. “It can’t wane. We can’t go back.”

Robert Morris raced to a 44-24 halftime lead and kept the pressure on throughout the second half, leading by as many as 46 points (92-46) in the final minute.

“We just talked about if you’re not doing the right things, defensively, if you’re not giving the right effort, we’ve got to take you out of the game.

“They responded.”

But, he added, “We’ve got to make it habits every time. (Thursday night), we gave multiple efforts on possessions to protect the rim, protect the paint, contest shots, dig out rebounds. That’s what you have to do in order to win games.”

Toole is likely to see what becomes of it in six days, when Wright State visits Wednesday, though practice habits, he said, should offer a clue beforehand.

Wright State defeated Cleveland State, 82-70, on Thursday and will visit league-leading Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday before traveling to UPMC Events Center.

“I’m happy with the effort tonight,” Toole said, “but it’s time to get back to work.”