Robert Morris sent a stern message Wednesday night to the rest of the Horizon League men’s basketball teams.
League-leading Cleveland State certainly heard it loud and clear: “Beware.”
“You can’t beat a team like Cleveland State on the road unless you get contributions from everybody, and that’s what we did tonight,” Robert Morris coach Andy Toole said after the streaking Colonials cemented their claim as the hottest team in the league, rolling to a convincing 68-59 victory over the Vikings at Wolstein Center in Cleveland.
Amarion Dickerson, a Cleveland native, scored 21 points and Alvaro Folgueiras added 18 points and 10 rebounds for his 11th double-double to lead Robert Morris (19-8, 10-5).
“Really proud of the game ‘Mar’ (Dickerson) had,” Toole said. “It was great for him to be able to have this game tonight, but he’s most happy with the fact that we won the game.”
Robert Morris won for the ninth time in 10 games since an 80-69 loss to Cleveland State on Jan. 8 at UPMC Events Center.
“A really important and hard-fought win on the road in the Horizon League,” Toole said. “Our guys were ecstatic in the locker room, and we’ve got to keep building.”
The Colonials return home to play Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday afternoon at UPMC Events Center.
The Mastodons dropped a 93-71 decision at Youngstown State on Wednesday night, creating a three-way tie for second place involving Robert Morris, Purdue Fort Wayne and Youngstown State — all 11-5 in the Horizon and 1 1/2 games behind Cleveland State (18-8, 12-3).
Dickerson shot 7 for 14 and contributed 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 2 assists for Robert Morris.
Josh Omojafo also scored in double figures for the Colonials with 12 points. Kam Woods, despite an off night in shooting (1 for 11), recorded seven assists for the Colonials.
“Josh had a great second half,” Toole said. “Our ball movement in the second half was excellent. Even though some guys didn’t shoot the ball well, Kam was great with the basketball.”
Dylan Arnett led Cleveland State (18-8, 12-3) with 16 points. Tahj Staveskie added 11 points, and Reece Robinson finished with 10 for the Vikings, who rose to the top of the Horizon standings on the strength of a 13-game winning streak from Dec. 7 to Jan. 30.
“Cleveland State is such a hard team to play offense against because they are so versatile,” Toole said. “They’ve got guys that can defend multiple positions. They switch. They rotate.
“Our guys did a good job of being unselfish, moving the ball, finding great shots and being able to convert.”
Robert Morris won despite shooting just 38.7%. The Colonials made 12 of 14 free throws, though, and outrebounded Cleveland State, 39-32. The Vikings shot 43.9%.
It marked Robert Morris’ first victory against Cleveland State since 2012.
Ryan Prather Jr.’s 3-point shot gave Robert Morris a 43-40 lead with 14 minutes, 6 seconds left after the Colonials trailed for much of the first half.
Cleveland State led at halftime 40-36.
“It was an incredible second-half defensive effort by our guys,” Toole said, “and really, it was 40 minutes of defense. But I thought the second half was really high level.”
Robert Morris couldn’t hang onto a 48-43 lead as Cleveland State scored six consecutive points, capped by Robinson’s dunk with 8:31 left to move back in front, 49-48.
It was short-lived as Robert Morris sank 7 of 8 free throws — Dickerson was 6 for 6 — during a 12-3 scoring spree that gave the Colonials a late 60-52 advantage, and they held on.