Today's game at Long Island is anti-climactic for Robert Morris, which Thursday night secured the Northeast Conference regular-season championship and the top seed in the NEC tournament.

It won't mean much for the Blackbirds, either, because they've clinched the seventh seed in the NEC tournament.

• Matchup: Robert Morris (24-6, 15-2 NEC) vs. Long Island (15-13, 7-10), 2 p.m. today, Athletic Recreation and Wellness Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Radio, Internet: WPIT-AM (730), www.sports.yahoo.com.
• Robert Morris: Is 13-2 on the road, including 8-0 in Northeast Conference games. ... Has won nine consecutive road games. ... Has lost six games in a row at Long Island since winning, 73-58, Feb. 26, 2000.
• Long Island: Is 9-4 at home, including 4-4 in NEC. ... Has won three of past four games.... Leads NEC in 3-point percentage defense (.311), just ahead of RMU (.313).
• Hidden stat: Tony Lee (196) is eight assists short of tying RMU's record for most assists in a season (Wade Timmerson, 204, 1991-92).

• Even though Mike Rice plans to use his reserves liberally in the 2 p.m. game, he wants to keep the Colonials on course.

  "I want to keep this thing rolling and continue the positive flow," Rice said.

  The Colonials (24-6, 15-2) rolled to the NEC regular-season title Thursday night by winning at Sacred Heart, 82-69, and extending their program-record win streak to 12 games. They also improved their road record to 13-2.

  "As long as we win, that's fine -- whether that's home or on the road or in a shoebox," senior guard Tony Lee said.

  The only remaining interest the Colonials have in the NEC standings is learning which team they'll play Thursday night at the Sewall Center.

  They'll know that tonight after Saint Francis, Pa. (6-22, 4-13) plays at Fairleigh Dickinson (7-20, 3-14) and Monmouth (7-22, 4-13) visits Mount St. Mary's (14-14, 10-7).

  If Monmouth beats Mount St. Mary's or Saint Francis, Pa., loses to Fairleigh Dickinson, then Monmouth is the eighth seed and will visit Robert Morris. If Monmouth loses to Mount St. Mary's and Saint Francis, Pa., beats Fairleigh Dickinson, then Saint Francis will make the trip.

  It's possible Rice will decide to give his regulars more rest than usual today, although fatigue doesn't seem a problem for the starters.

  "It doesn't feel like the end of the season," forward A.J. Jackson said. "It feels like the middle of the season -- or like we're just getting started.

  "Last year, I think everybody wanted the season to be over with. This year, it's different. We have energy. We have our legs."

  Nobody has his legs as much as Jackson did Thursday night.

  The senior from Monessen scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and played as if he were on a mission.

  "You could see it in his post moves," Rice said. "He was dominating in the paint. Offensively, he was a man playing with boys. He produced. I can't tell you how hard he played and how many little things he did that hurt Sacred Heart. He made championship plays. He had one of his best games of the year."

  The Colonials, who outrebounded the Pioneers, 43-28, held Sacred Heart to 29.2 percent (7 of 24) from 3-point range.

  Defensive specialist Bateko Francisco guarded Sacred Heart guard Drew Shubik and held him to three field goals and 11 points.

  "Bateko would rather chew his hand off than let somebody score on him," Rice said.

  The Colonials led by 17 points (63-46) with 12¹/₂ minutes left, but had to withstand a Sacred Heart comeback before sealing the deal.

  "Sacred Heart is a good team with tremendous perimeter shooters, and you just knew they were going to make a run," said Rice, whose team's lead shriveled to five points with 2:53 left. "We didn't panic, though."

  Long Island (15-13, 7-10), which will play second-seeded Wagner in the NEC tournament's first round, won at St. Francis, N.Y., 83-68, Thursday night. The Blackbirds, led by sophomore guard Jaytornah Wisseh, outscored the Terriers, 57-37, in the second half.

  Wisseh scored 25 of his career-high 31 points in the second half. He averages 15.4 points per game and was 11 of 19 from the field with eight rebounds and five assists.

  First published on March 1, 2008 at 12:00 am