A few minutes from announcing itself as this year’s Cinderella, Robert Morris could not quite slip into the slipper.
The No. 15 Colonials put a scare into No. 2 Alabama and held a lead with less than eight minutes left, but the Crimson Tide awoke at the right time for a 90-81 exhale of a first-round victory Friday in the NCAA Tournament at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
When Josh Omojafo converted a layup with 7:10 left, Robert Morris had a 65-64 lead and the whiff of one of those magical March moments.
The Horizon League champions couldn’t convert in the last minutes, though, and were outscored 26-16 in the foul-heavy final seven minutes of the game.
Still, the crowd seemed to appreciate a final score that was much closer than anticipated and chanted “Robert Morris” in the closing minute, when the game had been decided.
Guard Mark Sears led Alabama with 10 assists and 22 points — going an important 11-for-13 from the free-throw line — in helping avoid disaster.
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Robert Morris failed to become just the 12th No. 15 seed to shock a No. 2, the most recent coming two years ago when Princeton stunned Arizona.
A year earlier, Saint Peter’s terrific run started against No. 2 Kentucky.