Ohio University pulls away from Robert Morris in second half

Kahliel Spear had a game-high 22 points, and Jaron Williams added 19, but the Robert Morris men’s basketball team dropped to 0-3 with an 85-71 loss to Ohio University on Monday night.

Jason Carter had 18 points to lead five Bobcats players in double figures. Ohio outrebounded Robert Morris, 36-30, and committed 10 turnovers to Robert Morris’ 16.

The game was tight through most of the first half until the Bobcats (3-0) went on a 6-0 run to take a nine-point lead with just under four minutes to play. The Colonials whittled the lead to four before the Bobcats scored the final four points of the first half to take a 39-31 lead into halftime.

Robert Morris scored first in the second half to trim the deficit to six, but Ohio got five consecutive free throws from Ben Roderick to build its lead to 11 and the Colonials never got closer than seven the rest of the way.

Spear also led the Colonials with eight rebounds.

Ben Vander Plas had 17 points, Mark Sears 16, Roderick 14 and Lunden McDay 11 for Ohio. Carter and Vander Plas had 11 rebounds each.

Robert Morris hosts Mount St. Mary’s at 7 p.m. Friday.