Box Score Jan. 18, 2009
Final Stats
KINGSTON, R.I. - In a game that featured two schools with the same nickname (Rams) and with the same number of Atlantic 10 wins (zero) one of the schools quickly differentiated itself as Rhode Island took advantage of ten first half Fordham turnovers to take a 23-point halftime lead en route to a 98-67 win over Fordham at the Ryan Center.
With the loss, Fordham falls to 2-14 overall, 0-4 in the Atlantic 10, while Rhode Island improves to 12-6 overall, 1-2 in the conference.
"Give credit to Rhode Island as every shot they threw up seemed to go in today," said Fordham head coach Dereck Whittenburg. "I thought our freshmen and Jacob Green played well though we did show our inexperience at times which hurt us. But I think we have a bright future with these guys."
Fordham couldn't take advantage of the positive momentum it had built in a last second loss at Dayton on Wednesday night as Rhody collected eight offensive rebounds to go with the ten turnovers in the first half. Those numbers, along with cold shooting from Fordham, helped Rhode Island take a 55-32 lead at the break.
The game was even over the four minutes with Rhode Island leading by one, 6-5, 4:36 into the game. Rhode Island boosted the lead to five, 10-5, on baskets from Kahiem Seawright and Lamonte Ulmer over the next minute before a Jio Fontan layup brought Fordham back to within three, 10-7, with 14:18 remaining.
The Rhode Island defense then forced a couple of Fordham turnovers as Rhode Island scored seven straight points to take a ten-point lead, 17-7, with 13:36 left in the half.
A pair of Trey Blue free throws eleven seconds later stopped the Rhode Island streak and a Fontan jumper with 12:52 remaining in the period cut the Fordham deficit to six, 17-11.
The Rhode Island defense again forced turnovers in the Fordham backcourt as Rhody netted ten consecutive points to make it a 27-11 game following a Jimmy Baron three-pointer with 10:36 left.
A pair of Jacob Green free throws and a Green layup over the next 1:15 brought Fordham to within 12, 27-15, but that was as close as Fordham would get in the half as Rhode Island responded with a 13-6 spurt over the next six minutes to take a 40-21 lead with four minutes left in the half.
Trailing by 23 at the intermission, 55-32, Fordham scored the first six points of the second half, three each from Fontan and Green, to make it a 17-point contest, 55-38, 3:30 into the period.
After another Baron three-pointer got the Rhode Island lead to 20, Fontan cut it back to 17 again, 58-41, with a three-point play with 15:20 left in the game.
Fordham would get no closer in the game as Rhode Island scored 14 unanswered points over the next five minutes to build a commanding 31-point lead, 72-41.
Alberto Estwick led Fordham with 19 points, shooting 5-for-7 from behind the arc, while Fontan added 17 points, seven assists and five steals. Trey Blue (11) and Green (10) also netted double figures for Fordham.
The Rams will next be in action on Sunday afternoon, January 25th, as they host Duquesne University for an Atlantic 10 game in the Rose Hill Gym at 1:00 p.m. as part of 2009 Hall of Fame Day.
Notes
The win is the third straight for Rhode Island against Fordham...Rhode Island now leads the all-time series, 27-23...Estwick, who was named Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Week prior to the game, scored in double figures in his third straight game...He is averaging 18.7 ppg over that stretch...Fontan scored in double figures for the fifth consecutive game and the ninth time over the past ten games...He is averaging 18.8 ppg over the last five games...The seven assists gives Fontan 26 over the last three games while the five steals is a season-high for a Ram....Green tied his season-high with the ten points...Blue scored in double figures for the second consecutive game...Zach Wing scored a career-high six points, all in the first half, hitting all four of his free throw attempts and his lone field goal attempt...Luke Devine, who lives minutes away from the URI campus had had a large contingent of fans in attendance, tied his career-high with six rebounds...Junior guard Brenton Butler missed his ninth straight game with an ankle injury.
