Second-half rally comes up short as Robert Morris falls to Wright State

If Robert Morris coach Andy Toole and his players were feeling frustrated following Thursday’s loss to Northern Kentucky — and, judging by Toole’s postgame remarks, there was disappointment aplenty — the aftermath of Saturday’s 82-67 loss to Wright State must have left a similar, if not worse, taste in the mouth.

That’s because in both cases, what had been competitive affairs down the stretch of the second half ultimately turned into routs.

Thursday, turnover woes proved to be the difference in a loss to the Norse. But Saturday, with the Raiders visiting UPMC Events Center, the Colonials (11-14, 6-8 Horizon League) simply got outmatched.

Wright State star Trey Calvin torched Robert Morris from the floor, and big man Brandon Noel had his way on the glass, snagging 15 rebounds to go along with 16 points.

With Calvin exploring the space of the perimeter and Noel mopping up down low, the Colonials steadily were ground down.

“(Wright State’s) gameplan from the beginning was very clear and evident, and we weren’t able to slow it down in any way, shape or form,” Toole said. “We got absolutely punked in the paint. They big-boy-ed us all night, and that’s the reason they won the game.”

With 6 minutes, 26 seconds to play, Robert Morris held a 1-point lead, but from there, Wright State outscored the Colonials, 18-4.

Calvin in particular, after being held to eight points in the first half, chipped away at Robert Morris’ defense.

He entered Saturday’s game averaging 20.2 points — good for second in the Horizon League — and was coming off a career-high 44-point performance against Youngstown State on Feb. 2.

Toole gave the senior guard appropriate credit as primary architect of Robert Morris’ defeat.

“He’s their closer,” Toole said. “… He’s obviously one of the best guards in this league, and we weren’t able to slow him. It’s hard when you’re getting battered in the paint, and then he’s able to get off on the perimeter. It makes it really hard to win the game.”

Enoch Cheeks led the Colonials with 21 points, and Kahliel Spear contributed 11 points and 11 boards.

Wright State led by seven at halftime and was up by 12 a few minutes into the second half.

But for close to six minutes, leading into the midway point of the second half, the Raiders were held scoreless and Robert Morris crept closer.

With 10:15 to play, Michael Green III sank a 3-pointer, and the Colonials took a 56-55 lead.

Things stayed within a basket over the ensuing minutes, with Robert Morris’ biggest lead coming at the 6:38 mark, when was up 64-60.

The Colonials only trailed 70-66 with 3:48 remaining but managed just one point from there.

“Sometimes it comes down to being able to make the right plays and right decisions at the end of games,” Toole said. “Both games this weekend, against two of the best programs in this league, Northern Kentucky and Wright State, those guys have championship DNA.

“…We just did not make the right decisions coming down the stretch. A lot of it goes back to: Can you get stops when you need stops?”