Robert Morris Basketball

NCAA Features Robert Morris in One Shining Moment

Published

3 weeks ago

April 7, 2025

Adam Borst

Robert Morris celebrates winning the Horizon League Championship in Indianapolis -- RMU Athletics

One word to describe the Robert Morris men’s basketball season could certainly be “shining.”

After being selected ninth in the Horizon League preseason rankings, the Colonials went onto clinch the league’s regular-season title before winning their first ever Horizon League Championship.

That clinched them a spot in the NCAA Tournament field for the first time since 2020. As a No. 15-seed in the tournament, the Colonials went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the entire country as they gave Alabama everything that they could handle in a near upset of the Crimson Tide.

Additionally, on an individual level, the Colonials excelled as they saw Alvaro Folgueiras win the Horizon League Player of the Year award while Amarion Dickerson won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award and head coach Andy Toole claimed the Coach of the Year award.

While the entire starting-five and three other depth players have entered the transfer portal since the opening-round loss to the Crimson Tide, which may leave a sour taste in some people’s mouth, there is still plenty to look back on and appreciate if you are a fan of the Colonials.

From the program-record 28-0 scoring run against Green Bay to the packed UPMC Events Center that was brimming with anticipation on Selection Sunday to the the moment that Robert Morris took its first lead in the second half against Alabama, the potential Cinderella story gave fans everything that they could want when watching the Colonials this past season.

The NCAA highlighted the Colonials in its annual “One Shining Moment” compilation following the conclusion of the National Championship game.

Within the montage, Robert Morris was showcased in a short clip at the 48-second mark of the video. The clip was of D.J. Smith dropping an Alabama defender to the floor with a crossover and then proceeding to nail a three-point shot in the opening-round game against the Crimson Tide.