Enoch Cheeks scored 24 points as Robert Morris beat Purdue Fort Wayne, 75-70, on Thursday night.

Cheeks added five rebounds, six assists and four steals for the Colonials (7-7, 2-1 Horizon League), who have won three straight games. Kahliel Spear scored 10 points and added six rebounds and three blocks. Jackson Last was 3 of 7 shooting (3 for 5 from distance) to finish with nine points.

“Tonight was Horizon League basketball,” RMU coach Andrew Toole said. “Every possession is going to be incredibly critical. We’ve talked from the beginning of the year about being solid on the defensive side. To be able to hold a team like Purdue Fort Wayne in the second half to 33% from the field and 30% from 3 is not easy. That’s a credit to our defense. In the first half I thought they attacked us and put us in rotation. In the second half we did a better job guarding the ball. It’s the ability to get stops.”

Spear surpassed 1,000 career points in the victory and now has 1,009, including 837 in three seasons at RMU.

“It was fitting that I started at the free-throw line tonight and was able to get it right there,” he said. “I was able to celebrate internally emotionally, but after that it was right back to work to get the win. This is the most selfless group that I’ve been with. You can tell and feel on the court that there is a consistency in everybody wanting to win. When that’s the main focus for everybody, good things happen. That constant communication at all levels has been what’s really helped us be successful this year. Player to player, player to coach and coach to player.”

The Mastodons (9-5, 1-2) were led by Jarred Godfrey, who posted 20 points and five assists. Bobby Planutis added 15 points and nine rebounds for Purdue Fort Wayne. In addition, Quinton Morton-Robertson finished with 13 points and two steals. The Mastodons broke a five-game winning streak with the loss.

“Purdue Fort Wayne does a really good job of forcing you to make extra passes and move the ball,” Toole said. “It’s something we talked about with the guys as we prepared that you have to give it up on time. If you keep the ball moving your turn for a shot or drive will occur. Toward the end of the game I thought we had two unbelievable possessions where we had moved the ball, were strong with the ball and executing on screens, which created a driving lane for Mike and Enoch. That’s good offense for us.”

Robert Morris returns to action at home against Cleveland State at 3 p.m. Saturday at UPMC Events Center.

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