One down, Two to go: Robert Morris survives FDU

"We anticipated a tough, hard fought game tonight. We stepped up and got a few key defensive stops late."

That was Andy Toole's quote just after the Colonials survived Fairleigh Dickinson Wednesday night.

The Colonials did just that, survive.

Luck was "this big" for RMU tonight.
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All season long, this group of eight has found wild ways to win games, but tonight may have been the most unlikely of them all.

You see, many of the Colonials comebacks were on the back on the NEC player of the year, Karvel Anderson. The senior has willed his team back on multiple occasions, like his 26 point second half against LIU to over come a 16 point deficit.

Tonight, Anderson didn't score a point...the whole game. He sat out the final nine plus minutes. After the game Andy Toole said Anderson came down with a sickness just before tip, and simply didn't have it in him tonight.

This time, his teammates came to his aid, and willed the Colonials to victory.

"We've found a variety of ways to win this year, and when your number is called, you have to step up," Toole said.

Lucky Jones, a player that many called upon to step up, brought his A game, locking down his side of the zone, collecting a team high seven rebounds, and found his jump shot at the right time. The junior scored a team high 19 points, on an efficient 7-13 shooting

Criticize Lucky all you want, dude shows up when the lights are on. That was a first team NEC performance, without him RMU is the first 1 seed to lose to an 8 seed.

Then there is David Appolon. ALL THE GUY DOES IS WIN. Eight points, four assists, three rebounds may not be a flashy stat line, but if "winning plays" was a category, App leads the squad.

Freshman Kavon Stewart also hit two really big shots, including a floater late in the game to help RMU sustain their lead. He also was poised with the ball. I was really impressed with the freshman in his first NEC tournament game.

Too be honest, all seven guys picked up their play with Karvel out of it. Kudos to Andy Toole for having the faith to rest his star and ride with the rest of his squad. It was clear early on Karvel wasn't right. He had little to no energy, and just couldn't find a groove.

While the Colonials certainly had some bad luck with their star sick, they got some fortune elsewhere. The St Francis Red Flash upset Bryant on the road, so the Colonials will host the sixth seeded Flash Saturday at 2pm at the Chuck.

The Colonials have beaten the Flash 13 straight times, including two wins this season. Both were tight games, including a late comeback win at the Chuck back in January.

Obviously, the hope is what ever Karvel has, passes quickly, but that will certainly be something to track.

A lot more on CTC tomorrow, including more on this game, and the NEC semifinals. For now, awesome win, and I hope many of you can stick around for Saturday's game. Two more wins, and we dance. Lets do it.

(In the other match-ups, Wagner out lasted CCSU, and Mount St Marys came back from 19 down to beat SFNY at the buzzer. The Mount will now play at Wagner Saturday at noon.)