Fordham Loses Third Straight A-10 Game To St. Joe’s

By Robert Cole

Photo by Robert Cole.

Photo by Robert Cole.

Despite the loss of their leading offensive threat, New York City native Shavar Newkirk, the St. Joseph Hawks put on an offensive show during the first half that led to a fifteen point win, 70-55, over the Fordham Rams, on Saturday afternoon, at Rose Hill Gym.  Fordham had difficulty containing a hot St. Joseph offense that shot 60.7% from the field in the first half, with 42.9% from beyond the three- point line.

Although Fordham’s Head Coach, Jeff Neubauer acknowledged that the Hawks hit tough shots during the half, he stated, “His team did not guard well enough.”

The Hawks  scored the first seven points of the game before Fordham’s Joseph Chartouny, hit a three-pointer to make the score 7-3 at the 17:36 mark of the half. The Rams were able to keep within striking distance trailing by four points at the 10:04 mark.  However, St. Joseph’s was able to out score Fordham in the last ten minutes by a 24-13 margin, to take a fifteen point lead into the halftime locker room 44-29.

Coach Neubauer pointed out how his team’s slow starts have created mental stress for them, as they constantly have to play from behind.  He spoke about how last year’s team was able to play more relaxed because they were able to “start the right way.”

 

Photo by Robert Cole.

Photo by Robert Cole.

 

Fordham would find a way to apply pressure defensively on St. Joseph after allowing the lead to get to seventeen, 48-31, at the 18:29 mark of the second half.  The Rams would cut the Hawks lead to five, 52-47, after a three-point goal by Antwoine Anderson with 13:15 remaining in the game, however, missed shots and five turnovers would allow St. Joseph’s to go on a 16-0 run an increase the lead to 21 points, 68-47, with 6:27 left in the game.

 

Photo by Robert Cole.

Photo by Robert Cole.

 

Neubauer acknowledged that his team did some good things in the second half.  He stated, “ the defense was more active, deflected more passes, but we certainly have a long way to go.”  He noted “to guard an A-10 team, we have to play much harder.”

Photo by Robert Cole.

Photo by Robert Cole.

Fordham’s, Joseph Chartouny, would hit his second and third three-pointers to tie his season high, at the 1:56 and 1:19 mark, which allowed the Rams to equal the second half offensive output of St. Joseph at 26, but it was too little to give the Rams their first A-10 victory.

With the win, St. Joseph improves its record to 8-6, 2-1 A-10 while Fordham drops to 6-10, 0-3 A-10.  Fordham will take to the road, in an attempt to obtain a A-10 win, when they travel to North Carolina, to play Davidson College, on Wednesday night. 

Robert Cole is freelance writer and photographer.

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