MOON TOWNSHIP, PA. – Lucky Jones scored 18 points to lead Robert Morris to a 72-61 win over Campbell Wednesday night at the Sewell Center.
The defending Northeast Conference regular season champion Colonials (5-7) hit 9-18 threes and 19-of-26 from the line to win their second-straight outing. Karvel Anderson added 16 points, including 4-of-7 from long range, while Anthony Myers-Pate chipped in 12 points and 8 assists for Robert Morris, which defeated Kentucky in the first round of last year's post-season NIT.
D.J. Mason led Campbell (4-7) with 12 points off the bench, while Darius Leonard had 9 points. Andrew Ryan scored 7, but pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds for the Camels, who dropped their fourth-straight outing.
Campbell trailed by seven (36-29) at the half, but cut the gap to 47-45 with 10:32 to play on Antwon Oliver's trey from the right corner. However, the Colonials answered with a 9-2 run and Campbell was unable to cut the gap to fewer than seven the rest of the way.
"We knew this was going to be a tough game," said Campbell head coach Kevin McGeehan. "They have a good team and a good program that's been winning a lot of games for a while. "I just disappointed with the way we lost the game. We just had too many unforced turnovers against their zone, too many empty possessions."
The Camels finished with a 33-27 advantage on the glass, but shot just 41.5 percent (22-53) from the field, 32 percent (7-22) from 3-point distance and committed 18 turnovers. Robert Morris finished with a 21-12 edge in points off turnovers (11-0 midway through the first half).
"We definitely caused them some problems with our 1-3-1 defense, we rebounded pretty decent, but must get better at taking care of the ball," said McGeehan.
Robert Morris made 5 of its first 9 three-pointers and led by as many as 12 (31-19) after Kavon Stewart's steal and lay-in with 5:59 left in the opening period.
Campbell, responded, however and went on a 10-2 run, capped by Leek Leek's triple to cut the gap to 33-29 with 51 seconds remaining the half. However, Jones connected from beyond the arc as time wound down and the Colonials led 36-29 at the half.
Robert Morris made 14-of-28 first-half shots, 6-of-12 from 3-point range and converted 12 Campbell first-half turnovers into an 11-5 edge in points off miscues. Campbell hit 12-of-25 shots (.480), 4-of-10 triples, and held a 17-12 advantage on the glass.
The Camels open a 5-game home stand Saturday at 2:00 p.m. vs. Johnson and Wales.
