7 players score in double figures as Robert Morris men rout IU Indy

As the seasons progress in men’s basketball, Robert Morris’ desire to make noise in the Horizon League grows stronger.

The surging Colonials were deafening Thursday night at UPMC Events Center, doubling up IU Indianapolis, 106-53, for their sixth consecutive victory and 10th in the past 12 games.

“We’re getting hot at the right time,” said Robert Morris guard Kam Woods, who played sparingly at N.C. State last season, when the Wolfpack made a run to the Final Four. “Everybody is connected. We lost some close games. Now we’re winning the close games. We want to take the next step.”

The Colonials took a huge stride.

The victory was a welcome relief after Robert Morris (16-7, 8-4) ground its way through the first five games of the current winning streak with four outcomes decided by three points or fewer.

The past two results — Robert Morris defeated Youngstown State and Oakland back-to-back by two points each — has resulted in disciplinary measures for both losing coaches.

The Horizon League suspended Oakland’s Greg Kampe and Youngstown State’s Ethan Faulkner each for one game for challenging officials at the conclusion of their games with Robert Morris.

The Colonials defeated Youngstown State, 72-70, on Jan. 22 before knocking off Oakland, 73-71, on Saturday.

“You don’t get games like this very often,” Robert Morris coach Andy Toole said. “We’ve got to come back to work (Friday), stay focused and concentrate on the things that are going to help us improve and get better. Every game in this league is always difficult and challenging. IU Indy has been in every (other conference) game they’ve played this year.”

Alvaro Folgueiras and Ismael Plet produced double-doubles among seven players to score in double figures for Robert Morris, which shot 54.5% (12 for 22) from 3-point range.

Amarion Dickerson led RMU with 18 points.

Woods (17), Josh Omojafo and D.J. Smith (14 each), Plet (13), Folgueiras (11) and Dilen Miller (10) also scored in double digits for the Colonials, who have begun looking like a legitimate Horizon League title contender.

“There’s still a lot of basketball to be played,” Toole said.

But it’s clearly a break from past seasons since RMU joined the Horizon League in 2020.

Until now, the Colonials have managed just one .500 record in league play (10-10 in 2022-23). Otherwise, they have combined for a mark of 14-42 in the other three seasons.

“It gives you hope for what these guys can continue to accomplish, how they can continue to grow,” Toole said. “We’ve grown a lot through the course of this season, so I’m proud of that growth. But it’s no time at all to rest on any laurels, because nothing’s been really accomplished yet. We haven’t accomplished any of the goals we set out for as a team. Every game counts the same in the standings, so we’ve got to continue to work.”

Robert Morris raced to a 55-20 halftime lead, then outscored IU Indy, 51-33, in the second half to reach 100 points in a regulation game for the first time since beating Division II West Virginia Wesleyan, 111-56, on Nov. 16, 2022.

The last time the Colonials hit 100 was in a double-overtime 102-99 victory over Detroit Mercy on Jan. 17, 2024.

Against IU Indy (7-16, 3-9), RMU shot 52.1%, a near season-high, eclipsed only by the 53.7 against Green Bay and 53.4 against Saint Francis (Pa.), both games resulting in victories for the Colonials.

Folgueiras’ 13 rebounds led Robert Morris, and Plet came off the bench to finish with a career-high 11 as the Colonials demolished the Jaguars on the boards 53-26.

Robert Morris assisted on 22 of 37 baskets with Folgueiras getting six and Omojafo and Woods adding five apiece.

IU Indy shot only 34.5% and made just 3 of 22 shots (13.6%) from behind the arc. DeSean Goode led the Jaguars with 18 points, and Jarvis Walker contributed 10.

“It was an incredibly impressive performance by our guys,” Toole said. “It was our most focused and sustained 40-minute effort, especially on the defensive side. We shot the ball well, but it really started with our defensive energy and urgency. It led to us building the lead.”

And Toole was happy the Colonials made more noise after halftime.

“I liked how we handled the second half by continuing to guard, be active and share the ball. It was really impressive.”

Up next in Robert Morris’ drive to stay among the league leaders is a trip to Wright State on Sunday for a rematch of the Colonials’ 74-71 home victory against the Raiders on Jan. 12.

Woods, for one, knows the value of a team growing together as the season moves into February and races toward March.

“Even though we went to the Final Four last year (at N.C. State), it didn’t feel good sitting on the bench,” said Woods, who averaged 7.5 minutes in just 13 games in his only season with the Wolfpack after starting his college career at North Carolina A&T. “Being on the bench, I got to see a lot of things and how a team is run. From the bench and in the game. I just want to let the guys know, even the players that don’t play a lot, opportunities may come at any time.

“Stay ready.”