Robert Morris' losing streak hit seven games at home Friday, falling in overtime to Youngstown State, 84-78.
To say the Colonials hadn't competed during that streak would be incorrect, though.
All but one series, last weekend’s against Wright State, has featured a game that went into overtime. Although both of the Wright State games were completed in regulation, Robert Morris was neck and neck with the Raiders for a large portion of the second half. All of that transpired without AJ Bramah, the Horizon League’s leading scorer, stepping on the court.
Andy Toole admits that fatigue and the team’s five COVID-19 related pauses have plagued the team, even if they have been on a regular stretch over the past few weeks.
“I think some of it comes down to fatigue,” said Toole. “We missed so much time in the beginning of the year that we have kind of been playing catch up all year.”
Robert Morris has been showing that fatigue. The Colonials have been outscored in the second half in six of the seven games during their losing streak. Toole was quick to acknowledge that despite some hot starts, including early double-digit leads, that the team’s second half performances need to improve and maintain a consistent tempo.
“That’s the hardest part,” said Toole. “Being able to sustain that energy. Being able to execute for a full 40 minutes.”
Executing in overtime has been a clear problem as well. All three overtime games for the Colonials started off with a quick score for the opposition. In Friday's loss, Robert Morris briefly held an overtime lead with 3:16 to play after a Bramah dunk and free-throw.
The chance to capitalize and build on the lead was quickly washed away after a Michael Akuchie three-pointer with under two minutes left permanently swung momentum in Youngstown State’s favor.
Guard Jon Williams is confident that Robert Morris can shake their second half struggles and finally turn the ship around as the final stretch of the season arrives.
“We are right there,” said Williams. “It gets frustrating sometimes because, as Coach Toole says to us, the difference is in the details.”
Losses aside, Toole is pleased with how his team competes and maintains their drive to finally pull out a win to snap the skid.
“Our guys want to be playing at the level that they know that they are capable of and maybe feeling the way that they are used to feeling when they are on the court, and that’s been a hard thing this year," Toole said. "To their credit, they continue to battle.”
With five games left in the regular season, Robert Morris needs to win a few battles to carry anything resembling momentum into the Horizon League tournament.