MOON TWP., Pa. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team fell to Robert Morris University in its final road contest of the season, 89-46, on Saturday, Feb. 23 at a crowded Sewall Center. With the loss the Knights drop to 7-22 on the year, with a 2-14 mark in Northeast Conference action, while the Colonials advance to 20-9 and maintain a first-place ranking in the conference with a record of 12-4.

The Colonials took a 44-25 lead in the first half and extended their advantage by outscoring FDU 45-21 over the final 20 minutes.

Freshman Kyle Pearson (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) led FDU with a career-high 14 points.Senior Melquan Bolding (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Bishop Stepinac) also added double digits for the Knights with 12 points  Robert Morris saw four double-digit scorers, including senior Velton Jones, who paced all players with 20 points.

After Robert Morris recorded the first point of the game on a free throw, Bolding put the Knights ahead 5-1 on a three-pointer and two free throws. The Colonials responded quickly with a 7-0 run to reclaim the advantage with a score of 8-5.

The Colonials extended their lead to 17-8 on two Russell Johnson free throws and five straight points by Jones, but Pearson scored five consecutive points for FDU to help the Knights mount a comeback and bring the score to 17-15 with 10:42 remaining in the half.

Robert Morris pulled in front of FDU on two made free throws and went on to outscore FDU, 27-10, over the final minutes of the half to take a 44-25 lead at the break.

As a team, the Colonials led FDU from the field with a shooting percentage of 51.7, while the Knights converted just 29.6 percent of their shots. RMU also led on the glass with a 23-13 rebounding advantage. 

The Colonials opened the second half with a 9-2 streak to increase the FDU deficit to 53-27. Robert Morris then produced a 20-6 run, which included three consecutive three-pointers, to put FDU down 73-35.

The Knights attempted to chip away at the lead but could not stop RMU's strong offensive attack. The Colonials shot 38.6 percent from the field in the second half, with a 31.6 three-point percentage.  FDU shot just 28 percent during the second half and went 0-for-8 from three-point range.

The Colonials extended their advantage to 47 points late in the second half and ultimately took the win, 89-46.

In total, RMU outshot FDU 43.8 to 28.8 percent and outrebounded the Knights, 56-27.

The Knights return to Stratis Arena for the final two games of the 2012-13 campaign next weekend.  FDU will host Wagner on Thursday, Feb. 28 with a 7 p.m. tipoff and will take on Mount St. Mary's as part of a men's/women's doubleheader on Saturday, March 2.  Tipoff on Saturday is slated for 4:30 p.m. and will include Winter Homecoming festivities as well as a ceremony to honor FDU seniors Bolding, Yosua Cordero-Collado (Bologna, Italy/Bridgewater Raritan High School (N.J.)), Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach), Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) and graduate student Trevor Charles (Brooklyn, N.Y./William E. Grady).