Nov. 7, 2008

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Bronx, N.Y. - With the graduation of five seniors, including the second all-time leading scorer in school history, the Fordham Rams lost almost 70% of their offense from last year, leaving head coach Dereck Whittenburg wondering who would provide the points for the 2008-09 squad. Rams fans may have seen the answer to that question on Friday night as five players scored in double figures, led by a game-high 28 points from freshman Jio Fontan, as Fordham defeated Concordia College, 94-75, in an exhibition game in the Rose Hill Gym.

Fontan, who shot 10-for-15 from the field and added four assists, was joined in double figures by sophomore Mike Moore, who picked up a double-double with 18 points and ten rebounds, freshman Trey Blue, who netted 18 points and dished out six assists, senior Chris Bethel, who finished with 16 points, and freshman Alberto Estwick, who chipped in with 11.

As a team, Fordham shot 53.8% from the field (32-68) and forced 25 Concordia steals which the Rams turned into 35 points.

The Rams started slowly as the Clippers jumped out to a 12-7 lead 5:34 into the game on a Samuel Batista three-pointer. A Bethel three-pointer and jumper over the next minute knotted the game at 12, the first of three ties over the next two minutes, the final coming at 17-17 following a Blue free throw with 11:03 left.

A pair of Blue free throws 14 seconds later ignited an 8-0 Fordham run, which was capped by a Moore lay-up with 9:14 remaining.

Dan Cunningham halted the Fordham run with a lay-up and Concordia would cut the Fordham lead to five, 27-22, on an Alban Shala three-pointer with 7:55 left before the Rams scored 14 straight points to take a commanding 41-22 lead. Estwick and Blue started the run with back-to-back three-pointers with Blue finishing with six points in the spurt.

After a Sean Walker jumper made it a 41-24 game, Moore and Estwick knocked down three-pointers to boost the Fordham lead to 23, 47-24, with 3:50 remaining in the half.

Concordia would respond with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 15, 47-32, on a Cunningham lay-up with just over two minutes left before the Rams closed out the half with a 12-6 spurt to take a 59-38 lead into the break.

The closest the Clippers would get in the second half was 15, 61-46, on a Sean Walker jumper 2:18 into the half.

Bethel added eight rebounds to go with his 16 points while Batista led Concordia with 17 points.

The Rams will open the 2008-09 season next Friday, November 14th, as they host Columbia at 8:00 p.m. in the Rose Hill Gym.