COROPOLIS, Pa. (Interstat) — Ryan Prather scored 24 points and Darius Livingston added 12 points and four assists as Robert Morris pulled away in the second half to defeat Youngstown State 68-53 in a Horizon League men’s basketball game Wednesday night at the Charles L. Sewall Center.

The Colonials, who swept the season series, improved to 22-10 overall and solidified their position near the top of the conference standings. The Penguins fell to 15-16, dropping their third consecutive game.

A sloppy and defensive-minded first half saw both teams struggle to find offensive rhythm. Youngstown State’s Vladimer Salaridze, who finished with 18 points, and Cris Carroll, who had 17, kept the Penguins close. Robert Morris led just 28-23 at intermission despite Youngstown State shooting only 29% from the field in the opening period.

The game’s decisive stretch came early in the second half. After Salaridze converted a three-point play to cut the Robert Morris lead to 28-27, the Colonials unleashed a 13-2 run over the next four minutes. The surge was fueled by perimeter shooting and defensive stops. Prather, a 6-foot-5 guard from Clarksburg, Maryland, drilled a three-pointer, Livingston followed with another, and DeSean Goode capped the run with a three of his own, pushing the lead to 41-29 with 16:06 remaining.

Robert Morris never allowed Youngstown State to mount a serious threat thereafter. The Colonials’ offensive efficiency, which finished at a robust 113.0 points per 100 possessions, starkly contrasted with the Penguins’ anemic 84.6 rating. Robert Morris shot 48.1% from the field and a blistering 10 of 21 from three-point range, while Youngstown State managed just 32.1% shooting overall and 6 of 27 from beyond the arc.

The Penguins, who entered the game having lost two straight road contests by double digits, could not solve the Colonials’ defensive length or match their scoring balance. Goode, a 6-foot-8 forward from Fairmont, West Virginia, provided a strong interior presence with 12 points, two blocks, and a game-high 12 rebounds. Ta’Zir Smith contributed seven points and three assists off the bench for Robert Morris.

Youngstown State’s offensive woes were compounded by 10 turnovers and only seven assists on 18 made field goals. Beyond Salaridze and Carroll, no Penguin scored more than five points. Robert Morris also won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Youngstown State 41-34, including 12 offensive rebounds that led to 13 second-chance points.

The Colonials’ victory was their fifth in their last six games and continued their strong play at home, where they are now 14-2 this season. For Youngstown State, the loss continued a pattern of road struggles within the conference, where they have now lost four of their last five away from home.

Robert Morris maintained control throughout the final 15 minutes, with Prather and Livingston consistently answering any modest Penguin push with timely baskets. Prather’s scoring, particularly from deep where he hit 4 of 8 attempts, provided the consistent offensive punch that Youngstown State lacked.

The game drew an attendance of 3,537 to the Sewall Center. Robert Morris entered the game as a 4-point favorite according to sportsbooks, and the combined 121 points fell well under the pregame over/under line of 142.5, reflecting the defensive struggle of the first half and Youngstown State’s prolonged scoring droughts.

Both teams conclude their regular seasons this weekend ahead of the Horizon League tournament.