Fordham Loses Another Conference Game

By Jason Gonzalez

The Fordham Rams are now the losers of five straight. Fordham dropped their fourth home game this year as the Billikens of Saint Louis won by a final score of 63-60. In their first match-up this season and for the duration of the game both teams traded baskets and missed shots at a proportioned ratio. The Rams still managed to conclude the first half only being down by two points at the Rose Hill Gymnasium before a crowd of 1,778.

With the loss, Fordham (0-4) looks to get their first win in the A-10 Conference when they visit George Mason University Saturday.

A three pointer by forward Jesse Bunting at the buzzer brought the Rams within striking distance (34-32) at the end of the first half.

Both teams opened the second half with new found energy and motivation. Players on both teams hustled on both ends of the court. However, neither Fordham nor Saint Louis was able to take full control of the game and dominate. With under eight minutes to go in the second half, the Rams found themselves down by only four,  49-45. 

“I have come to learn that there are a lot of ways to win a game,” said Fordham head coach Jeff Neubauer. “With a little more toughness around the basket, we could have won this game, even with Nick [Honor] only scoring six points.”  

Credit: Fordham Athletics

At the 6:14 mark of the game, a Saint Louis offensive rebound resulted in a three-point shot being made by sophomore guard Jordan Goodwin. But the Rams responded back with some offensive production of their own. Under five minutes to go in the second half, third year guard Antwon Portley hit back-to-back 3-point shots, giving the Rams their biggest lead of the game, 57-52.  

But as the game clock steadily approached expiration, the Rams attempted to hold on to their 58-57 lead.  Senior guard Tramaine Isabell Jr. delivered the final blow, by making a clutch 3-point shot that gave the Billikens their two-point  lead, 60-58. Shortly after, sophomore forward Hasahn French blocked a Rams basket, ultimately giving the Billikens possession of the ball, and time to eat off the clock.  

Collectively, the Saint Louis Billikens made a big shot when it counted and got a big stop when it mattered most and was a key to their win, 

Goodwin dropped 20 points, grabbed nine boards, and dished out six assists. With their victory the Billikens improve to 13-4 and 4-0 in the Atlantic 10 conference. They have also stretched their win streak to five. 

 

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