MOON TOWNSHIP— Robert Morris (8-9, 2-6 Horizon) returned to the UPMC Events Center Saturday afternoon looking to snap their five-game losing streak against the IUPUI Jaguars (8-8, 4-3). The Colonials would do so by a score of 69-63.

For Robert Morris head coach Charlie Buscaglia, it was all about pushing his team to work hard despite the outcome and overcoming adversity. The Colonials overcame an early seven-point deficit to lead by as many as 11 points in the second half and would hold on for the win.

Buscaglia spoke proudly postgame about how his team has stuck together and handled the adversity throughout the season.

“It feels great to see them get the reward of staying with it and not questioning things,” Buscaglia said. “As a coach, you can sense things like negativity, and that wasn’t the case at all going into this game. I felt very confident that we would play hard and have a good chance to win because of the way we responded to this adversity.”

Two areas where the Colonials vastly improved were beyond the arc and at the free-throw line. RMU shot 10-for-23 (43.5%) from three and made 15-of-17 free-throw attempts, keeping the Jaguars at bay for most of the second half.

Buscaglia credited his team for making the correct adjustments despite having limited game preparation.

“We had one day to get ready for this game, and we knew that those were things we had to get better at, especially kicking the ball out from the post,” Buscaglia said. “As a post player, you’re not just a scorer or a rebounder, you’re also a passer. We passed out of the post really well, and when you do that, you’ve gotta be ready to knock it down.”

Despite two late runs from IUPUI, the Colonials answered both times. Two big threes each by Rebecca Dwomoh and Louella Allana shut the door on the Jaguars.

Dwomoh and Phoenix Gedeon led the scoring for the Colonials, both ending with 17 points and five made three-pointers.

Buscaglia complimented Dwomoh’s readiness from beyond the arc when the passes out of the post were completed.

“[She] was really great on being loaded and ready,” Buscaglia said. “You gotta load your weapon before the ball gets there, and she was loaded and locked in. It felt really good to see that ball go in so clean.”

Dwomoh highlighted the hard-working mentality that the team has and how it allows them to keep being their best.

“We just keep pushing,” Dwomoh said. “We know what we’re capable of, so if we keep working, the results will come, and they came today.”

Buscaglia emphasized how proud he was of his team for getting this win and handling the adversity that has been thrown their way.

“Going down in my career, this is one of the proudest victories that we’ve had,” Buscaglia said. “We took the storm head-on because we knew it was coming, and we had to run to it. Go right after it and don’t run away from it. Knock on the door and sooner or later it will open. Today it opened, we finished the game well, and I’m very proud of them.”

The Colonials hit the road once again for their next matchup as they take on the Milwaukee Panthers on Friday at 1:00 p.m.