Robert Morris coach Andy Toole couldn’t be happier for Joe Gallo, one of his former assistants with the Colonials, who is in his fourth year at Northeast Conference-newcomer Merrimack.

Toole just wasn’t thrilled with Robert Morris’ performance against Gallo’s Warriors on Saturday at UPMC Events Center, despite their longstanding relationship.

“We talk all the time, and not always about basketball,” Toole said. “We talk about family stuff, too.”

Gallo served on Toole’s staff from 2012-16 as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Jaleel Lord scored 14 points, including a pair of game-clinching free throws with 11 seconds left, to lead the Warriors to a 53-49 victory and a spot atop the NEC standings.

Merrimack (11-8, 5-1), which avenged an earlier 69-58 loss to Robert Morris, took a half-game lead over Robert Morris (8-10, 4-1), Long Island and St. Francis (Pa.), which played a later game against Sacred Heart.

“Joe and I worked really, really well together,” Toole said. “He’s one of my closest friends. It’s not a surprise to see what he’s doing.”

Juvaris Hayes added 12 points for Merrimack, which won its fourth in a row since that loss to RMU.

AJ Bramah’s 16 points led Robert Morris, which saw a four-game winning streak stopped. Colonials leading scorer Josh Williams was held to nine points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Robert Morris hadn’t played for a week, but the Colonials must return to the court Monday afternoon against Sacred Heart.

“It will be a great litmus test of how tough we are,” Toole said. “We sat on some wins for a week and then didn’t come out and play the way you needed to play.”

Robert Morris shot just 2 for 15 (13.3%) from 3-point range and converted just 8 of 27 attempts overall (29.6) in the first half before finishing to 19 for 46 (41.3) for the game.

But the Colonials’ improved second-half shooting didn’t serve them well in the closing minutes, when Merrimack seized the lead for good.

“Right from the beginning, it was an absolute war,” Gallo said.

Merrimack shot 18 for 40 (45.0%).

Lord’s layup with one minute, 44 seconds left gave the Warriors a 51-49 lead before both teams failed to capitalize on free throws down the stretch until Lord sank both attempts with 11 seconds to seal the victory.

“We just missed shots,” Williams said. “It’s tough, because they have active guards that do a good job of anticipating.”

Said Robert Morris point guard Dante Treacy: “I don’t think we were playing at the pace we should’ve been. They slowed us down and dictated the pace. They put the brakes on us. We have that pit in our stomach again.”

In a game that featured 10 ties and 17 lead changes, there were nine lead changes to start the second half before Merrimack scored six consecutive points to take a 43-38 lead. The back-and-forth pattern continued, both teams refusing to concede until Robert Morris folded in the final minute.

The Colonials saw a 21-game winning streak dating to 2016-17 end when holding opponents under 60 points.

“They’re in first place right now,” Toole said. “All the games have been like this one. Every one of the games they’ve been in have been similar situations. They’re used to being in these game, and that’s so important down the stretch.”

Robert Morris snatched a one-point halftime lead, when Bramah’s dunk off a feed from Dante Traecy at the buzzer gave the Colonials a 23-22 edge.

The play ignited the Colonials bench, including Toole, who stood on the court, clapping his approval.

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