Late-Game Run Helps Propel Men's Basketball Over Robert Morris, 59-56

(boxscore)

1/11/07 -- The Long Island University men’s basketball team overcame a late five-point deficit to snap a two-game losing streak and defeat Robert Morris, 59-56, on Thursday night at the Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center. Freshman Jaytornah Wisseh (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had four points in a decisive 9-0 run down the stretch to help the Blackbirds end the Colonials’ five-game win streak.

Senior James Williams (DeSoto, Texas) led LIU with 15 points, while senior Aubin Scott (Hempstead, N.Y.) chipped in with 10 points. Wisseh added six points off the bench, helping the Blackbirds to a 19-0 advantage in bench scoring.

Long Island (6-9, 2-2 NEC) built a nine-point cushion midway through the second half after a jumper from Williams made it 45-36 with 10:24 to play. Robert Morris’ Jeremy Chappell hit a three-pointer on the next possession to spark a 15-1 run over the next six minutes. Chappell and A.J. Jackson each scored six points during the spurt to give RMU a 51-46 lead with 4:26 remaining.

LIU junior Paska Morkeliunas (Kaunas, Lithuania) cut the deficit with a pair of foul shots and junior Eugene Kotorobai (Richmond Hill, Ontario) hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 51-51 with 3:25 left before four straight points from Wisseh capped the run to give LIU a 55-51 lead. Chappell hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to one, but a pair of foul shots from sophomore Tyrone Mattison (Toronto, Ontario) pushed the lead back to 57-54 with 15 seconds left. Tony Lee’s layup for RMU with five seconds left made it a one-point game, but Scott hit two foul shots and the Colonials failed to get a shot off a final shot to give LIU the win.

Long Island scored the first four points of the game, but Robert Morris managed to come back with eight points to take an early 8-6 lead. In a back-and-forth first half the Blackbirds eventually took a 23-17 on a foul shot from Donovin McLendon (Miami, Fla.), before Lee scored the final four points for the Colonials to make it 23-21 at halftime.

Both teams shot 39.6 percent from the field for the game, but LIU held a commanding edge at the line, hitting 17 foul shots compared to just seven for RMU. The Blackbirds also turned 21 Colonials turnovers into 28 points.

Coleman led Robert Morris (10-4, 2-3 NEC) with 19 points, while Coleman and Jackson each added 11. Jackson and Lee both had a game-high nine rebounds to help RMU to a 39-35 advantage on the glass.

The Blackbirds return to action on Saturday, Jan. 13, as part of a basketball doubleheader with Saint Francis (Pa.). The women’s game tips off at 2:00 p.m., with the men to follow at approximately 4:00 p.m.