Nov. 20, 2012
Contact: Greg Murphy
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MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Charlie Lee tied his career-high with 20 points, including five three-pointers, but the Vikings dropped a 71-62 decision at Robert Morris in the final consolation round game of the NIT Season Tip-Off at the Sewall Center on Tuesday night.
CSU fell to 4-2 this year, while the Colonials improved to 3-3.
Lee finished 7-of-9 from the floor, including 5-of-7 from three-point, and added five assists. Anton Grady scored 16 points with seven rebounds and four steals, while Junior Lomomba added eight points and four assists in his collegiate debut.
Lomomba, who returned from a broken foot suffered in the summer, played 25 minutes.
It was the duo of Lee and Grady that kept the Vikings close in the first half, combining for 22 of CSU's 24 points and hitting all nine field goals for the squad.
Lee drilled all four of his three-pointers for 12 points, while Grady did his damage in the paint, making four layups and a dunk for 10 points. Lomomba was impressive in his first half of collegiate basketball, dishing out four assists in 14 minutes of action.
In stark contrast, the Colonials shuffled players in and out of the game at a rapid pace with nine different players on the court for at least seven minutes and all but one of them scoring, to take a 28-24 lead at the intermission.
A three-pointer by Tim Kamczyc opened the second half scoring and CSU was back within one at 32-31 on a Sebastian Douglas layup.
But the Colonials used a bucket by Mike McFadden and a three-pointer from Lucky Jones to extend the lead back to six points (37-31). CSU came right back, taking its first lead of the night when Lee's fifth three-pointer of the game put CSU on top, 41-40 with 12:21 left.
But six straight points by RMU allowed the Colonials to climb back in front by five (46-41) midway through the second half. The Vikings were able to climb back within two points (52-50) on a Grady layup with 5:52 left, but nine straight points by the Colonials put them back ahead by nine (61-52).
The Vikings had one more run, using two Lomomba free throws and a Kamczyc three-pointer to get back within four (61-57), but that was as close as CSU would get the rest of the night as the Colonials hit all 10 of their free throws over the final two minutes to seal the win.
The Vikings shot .460 (23-50) from the floor, but were hurt by 19 turnovers that RMU turned into 20 points. RMU also held a 30-24 advantage on the glass and hit 23-of-27 (.852) at the free throw line, including the big ones down the stretch.
CSU did receive 16 points from its bench tonight.
CSU is now out of action until next Wednesday (Nov. 28) when the Vikings head to Ball State for a 7:00 p.m. contest.
