For the second straight year, the top-seeded team in the National Invitational Tournament was no match for Robert Morris.

Karvel Anderson made sure of that Tuesday night.

Anderson, a former standout at Elkhart Memorial High School, led the Colonials past St. John’s 89-79 in a first-round game of the NIT in New York.

Anderson, a 6-2 senior guard, poured in a career-high 38 points as Robert Morris dominated the Red Storm. Anderson hit 12-20 shots from the field, including 9-15 on 3-pointers.

Robert Morris, which knocked off No. 1 seed Kentucky in the NIT a year ago, never trailed Tuesday night. The Colonials led 49-27 at halftime in the contest. Robert Morris hit a school record tying 16 treys in the win, going 16-32 from distance. St. John’s was 16-37 on 3-pointers.

Anderson, who began his playing career at Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, Michigan, is now averaging a team-high 19.6 points-per-game for the Colonials. The Northeast Conference Player of the Year is an amazing 115-249 from beyond the 3-point arc this season.

Robert Morris missed the NCAA Tournament after losing to Mount St. Mary’s 88-71 in the NEC Championship game.

The Colonials, now 22-13, advance to play Bellmont University in the second round of the NIT Friday night at 9:30 p.m. in Nashville.