Box Score Nov. 18, 2009
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| 11/18/09 - Highlights vs. Sacred Heart 
Bronx, N.Y. - The two teams entered the game going in opposite directions. Fordham had dropped it's first two and was experiencing shooting woes, making only 31.6% of its field goal attempts. Sacred Heart entered the game with a 2-0 record, averaging 86.5 points per game and shooting over 50% from the field. Something had to give and in the end it was the Sacred Heart offense that gave into the Ram defense as Fordham held the Pioneers to shooting 39.1% from the field in a 76-66 win in the Rose Hill Gym.
The win snaps a 12-game losing streak for the Rams, dating back to January 28, 2009 when the Rams beat St. Bonaventure.
It wasn't easy for the Rams, despite leading from start to finish. Fordham led by as many as 12 in the first half and by 21, 74-53, with 2:34 remaining before Sacred Heart closed out the game with a 13-2 run to cut the final to 76-66.
"I had black hair when I started coaching at Fordham and now it's white," said Fordham head coach Dereck Whittenburg. "Games like this will do that to you, especially when you have freshmen and sophomores out there."
The Rams won the game with a strong defensive effort, holding the Pioneers to just 66 points after they scored 92 and 81 in their first two games. The defensive pressure allowed Sacred Heart to connect on only 25 of its 64 field goal attempts (39.1%) and forced 22 Pioneer turnovers which the Rams converted into 21 points. The Rams recorded 15 steals in the game, the most for a Fordham team since registering 16 swipes against Iona on December 3, 2006.
The Fordham offense, which shot 49.1% (27-55) from the field, was led by freshman Chris Gaston, who picked up his second double-double of the year with 22 points and 13 rebounds while also adding five blocks and two steals. He was joined in double figures by three other Rams, Jio Fontan (17), Brenton Butler (15) and Alberto Estwick (12).
Fordham led by nine at the break, 39-30, but Sacred Heart opened the second half with seven straight points to cut the Ram advantage back to two, 39-37, on a Corey Hassan three-pointer, one of four three-pointers on the night for Sacred Heart's leading scorer, 2:37 into the period.
The Rams would get the lead back to eight, 47-39, following a Gaston free throw with 13:07 remaining but the Pioneers would again cut their deficit back to two, 51-49, with a 10-4 spurt, lead by five points from Hassan.
Fordham then took over, using a stifling defense to force numerous Sacred Heart miscues and going on a 21-2 run to take a commanding 72-51 lead with 3:06 left. Butler scored eight points in the Fordham run while Fontan added four points and two assists.
"We knew Sacred Heart could score as they averaged over 80 points a game coming into tonight," said Whittenburg. "But I challenged the guys and told them this was a character game. And they responded by playing very aggressive defense. It's a good win for us as it shows we can rebound from the first two games."
The Rams opened the game with ten straight points over the first 2:46, four from Estwick, and increased the lead to 12, 15-3, a minute later on an Estwick three-pointer. But the Pioneers responded with a 17-6 run to cut the Fordham lead back to one, 21-20, on a Chauncey Hardy jumper with 6:25 left in the half.
A pair of Gaston baskets ignited an 8-0 Fordham burst, helping the Rams build the lead to nine, 29-20, and Fordham would lead by ten, 37-27, on a Butler jumper with 54 seconds left in the half before Ryan Litke hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the Fordham lead to seven at the intermission, 37-30.
Fontan finished with seven assists to go with his 17 points while Butler and Brennen Melvin each recorded four steals.
The Rams will next be in action on Saturday, November 21st, as they travel to Hartford, Conn., to face the University of Hartford at 2:00 PM.
Notes
The Rams have won both meetings with Sacred Heart and are 59-24 all-time against schools currently in the Northeast Conference...Whittenburg is now 9-1 all-time against the Pioneers...Fordham won the battle in the paint, outscoring Sacred Heart, 40-28, in the lane...The Rams shot 80.0% (20-25) from the free throw line in the game and are now shooting 75.8% (50-66) from the charity stripe on the season...Fordham outrebounded Sacred Heart, 35-34...The Rams have held their last two opponents to under 40% shooting from the field and are forcing 19.3 turnovers/game.
