Playing a lower-level opponent is one thing, but you've still got to make your shots.
Robert Morris made lots and lots of shots in crushing Division II West Virginia Wesleyan, 111-56, Wednesday night at UPMC Events Center in Moon Township.
The Colonials buried 17 of 26 from 3-point territory (65.4 percent) and 40 of 64 shots overall (62.5 percent) in dominating the Bobcats.
Robert Morris erupted for 60 points in the first half and led at the break, 60-21.
"We had really good energy to start the game," Colonials coach Andrew Toole said in a school release. "Defensively we stayed engaged for the majority of the 40 minutes. When you make shots at the rate we made them today, you're going to win some games. We've got to remain locked in on that defensive and rebounding side. It's human nature to look at the scoreboard. We talked at halftime about trying to maintain our energy level and focus. Every possession is an opportunity for us to get better in our defensive formula and for guys to learn, grow, get better and build trust with their teammates."
Enoch Cheeks led the Colonials with 21 points, while Josh Corbin had 20. Chris Ford had 12 off the bench, and Matt Mayers added 11.
Jackson Last had nine points, while Kahliel Spear and Stephaun Walker added eight apiece. Thirteen different players scored for Robert Morris.
The Colonials improved to 2-1, with both of their wins coming against non-Division I teams. Their first victory was against Division III Pitt Greensburg.
"You have to keep your focus small, and it has to be possession by possession," Toole said. "You can't necessarily look at the score. Are we doing the right things based on what the game is asking us to do? Are we closing out properly? Are we properly positioned? Are we communicating the way we need to? Part of our job is to coach those things every possession. We have to hold our players to that level. For the majority of the game tonight I thought we executed the way we wanted to execute."
"It's easy to be smiling and laughing when you score 111 points," Toole added. "We'll see when adversity hits. If you score 11, how well can you stay together in that environment? That's when you'll know if you have that camaraderie and the team has gelled the way you want it to. Those are the tests. Those are the times you figure out what you're really made of is when it's hard, not when it's easy. These guys have done a great job this year of responding to the coaching. They're executing what we're asking them to execute. There's going to be adversity because it always comes regardless. That's when we'll see what we're made of."
Robert Morris' next game is Saturday at No. 21 Dayton. Tipoff is 1 p.m.
THE ESSENTIALS
