Robert Morris overcomes two deficits to get past N. Florida
Associated Press
DAYTON
Even down by six points at half and by 13 early in the second half, Robert Morris never forgot that the NCAA Tournament was supposed to be fun.
Lucky Jones scored 21 points, including a key free throw, Rodney Pryor had 20 and Marcquise Reed 19 to lead the Colonials to an 81-77 victory over North Florida on Wednesday night in the First Four.
“We made sure coming into halftime that we remembered this is a blessing to be out here, to enjoy the moment,” Pryor said with a wide grin. “Guys had their heads down and things like that, but we reiterated going out and having fun and enjoying it.”
Part of the reason they had so much fun was a second half without a turnover, plus completely stifling the high-scoring, perimeter-minded Ospreys down the stretch.
“At halftime we let (the players) be for about 5 or 6 minutes, and I think they figured it out,” said coach Andy Toole, avoiding a fire-and-brimstone speech. “As we came in as coaches in the locker room, you know they looked like they understood what they needed to do.”
The Colonials (20-14), who won the Northeast Conference Tournament to get into the field as a 16 seed, now meet top-seeded Duke in the second round on Friday in Charlotte.
They failed to score for 4:31 of the first half, putting themselves in a hole. Down by 13 early in the second half after a pair of Beau Beech 3s, they turned the tables by shutting out North Florida for 4:44 to get back in the game.
“We were in a drought, which is unlike us,” said coach Matthew Driscoll. “Giving up 52 points in a half is unlike us, not close to what we’ve been doing. You’ve got to give Robert Morris a ton of credit.”
With the teams tied, Reed — a freshman — drove the lane and spun in a left-handed layup and was fouled with 3:49 left. He missed the free throw, but Jones was there to tip in the miss for a 70-66 lead.