Rookies Rise Up, Men's Basketball Uses Big Second-Half Start To Defeat Robert Morris

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Rookies Josh Redic and Lucas Jordan put up big performances in a strong all-around road effort by the Roosevelt men's basketball team, as the Lakers defeated Robert Morris (Ill.) by a final of 92-83 at the RMU Athletic & Convocation Center on Saturday.

Redic led all scorers with a career-high 21 points, with 17 coming in the second half, to go with four assists and two steals, while Jordan matched his career high for three-pointers made, set just six days ago, with six treys in nine tries en route to 18 points off the bench for the Lakers (3-14, 3-16 CCAC).

Quin Riggins had a superb all-around outing, scoring 12 points to go with nine boards and a game- and career-high nine assists to approach triple-double territory. The sophomore point guard also had a block and two steals to contribute to the defensive effort.

Bennett Fuzak added 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, while Matt Myers scored 11 points on a 3-for-5 afternoon from downtown to go with six boards.

Marcus Cole led the Eagles (9-6, 4-5 CCAC) with 20 points and nine rebounds.

Roosevelt shot better than 55 percent from the field and behind the three-point line during the win.

A closely-contested first half was capped by a go-ahead three-point bucket by Jordan with 13 ticks remaining before intermission.

Roosevelt then used a 12-0 run, fueled by a 4-for-4 burst from beyond the arc by Redic (2), Fuzak and Brian Kern, early in the second half to go up 13.

Thanks to Redic's offensive prowess, the Lakers were able to hold a strong lead throughout. RMU clawed back, aided by 15 RU turnovers that led to 20 points for the Eagles in the second half.

The hosts got within six with 21 seconds remaining in regulation to make it a two-possession game, but Riggins split a pair at the line and a defensive stand by the Lakers led to two more free throws made by Redic to ice the game in favor of the Green and White.

"What a great win today and a great program win," Roosevelt head coach Joe Griffin. "Everyone who played contributed. Quin almost had a triple-double like Tyree York had five years ago the first time we beat RMU. Josh and Lucas continue to shoot well, and Kern and Bennett and Tariq [Archibald] and Myers played all over the court.

"We defended really well and we shot great, which was enough to overcome our turnovers."

Roosevelt heads to Joliet to face St. Francis (Ill.) this Wednesday at 7 p.m.