Box Score Feb. 23, 2013
Gaston's senior day ruined (NY Post) | Daly Dose of Hoops Coverage
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Bronx, N.Y. -
The day started out on a high note for the Fordham University men's basketball program, with three seniors being recognized prior to the game and then the Rams opening the game by scoring the first four points. But things didn't end well for the Rams as the University of Richmond connected on ten three-pointers en route to a 72-55 Atlantic 10 win over Fordham in the Rose Hill Gym.
With the loss, Fordham falls to 6-22 overall, 2-11 in the Atlantic 10, while Richmond improves to 16-11 overall, 6-6 in the conference.
After allowing just one three-pointer by George Washington in their previous game, the Rams knew things would be different today as Richmond entered the game leading the Atlantic 10 in three-pointers made/game (8.3) and was second in three-point shooting percentage (.378). After a slow start, the Spiders started connecting from behind the arc, shooting ten-for-28 from long distance which proved too much for Fordham to overcome.
The Rams jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to a Mandell Thomas three 46 seconds into the game and a Ryan Rhoomes free throw a little over two minutes later. But Kendall Anthony got Richmond on the board with a three just six seconds after Rhoomes' free throw.
The Spiders built a five-point lead, 12-7, with 11:39 left in the first when the Rams used a 6-2 spurt, to cut the deficit to one, 14-13, following a Chris Gaston three-point play with 9:27 on the clock. Jeffrey Short netted the other three points in the Fordham run with a three-pointer.
Richmond responded to the Fordham run with one of its own, outscoring the Rams 13-3 over the next five minutes to take a 27-16 lead on a Deion Taylor three-point play with 4:48 remaining in the period.
A Thomas three and a pair of Short charity shots trimmed the Richmond advantage back to six, 27-21, at the 3:08 mark and Rhoomes hit one of two free throws just under a minute later to make it a five-point game, 27-22. But the Spiders scored four straight before a Branden Frazier free throw with less than a second on the clock made it a 31-23 game at the break.
Richmond opened the second half with a 9-4 spurt to take a 40-27 lead 3:35 into the half and led by 14, 43-29 with 15:07 left when a Short three-pointer pulled the Rams within eleven, 43-32, a minute later.
The Spiders increased the lead to 16, 52-36, midway through the second but a Frazier three-point play and a Thomas layup brought the Rams' deficit back to eleven, 52-41, with 8:15 remaining. But that was as close as Fordham would get as the Spiders used an 11-2 spurt to take a commanding 64-43 lead at the 4:07 mark and the closest the Rams would get from that point would be 14, 69-55, on a pair of Nihad Musovic free throws with 28 seconds on the clock.
Thomas led the Rams with 17 points while Short finished with 12 points and four rebounds and Frazier added eight points and five rebounds.
The Rams return to action on Saturday, March 2, as they travel to Philadelphia to face the Saint Joseph's University Hawks in an Atlantic 10 matchup in the Hagen Arena at 7:00 p.m.
Notes
Prior to the game senior managers Mike McBride and Frank Petric and senior forward Chris Gaston were honored... Besides being Senior Day it was also Alumni Day... 17 former Rams returned for the day, including Steve Breen, Darryl Brown, David Buckner, William Calhoun, Kenny Charles, Michael Cooper, Walter Douglas, Michael Fitzgerald, Paul Griswold, Ryan Hage, Frank Heyward, Bill Mainor, Frank McLaughlin, Kevin Moriarty, T.K. Tripuka, Charles Weizenecker, and Dr. George Zambetti... Gaston finished with seven points and six rebounds... Gaston's seven points brings his career total to 1,638, good for eighth on the school's career scoring list, 59 points behind Ken Charles for seventh... Gaston's six rebounds bring his career total to 1,026, good for third place on the Fordham all-time rebounding list... He is 23 rebounds behind Dan Lyons (1951-1955) for second on the career list... Fordham outrebounded Richmond, 35-33, the 13th time over the past 21 games that the Rams have grabbed more boards than their opponent... Rhoomes led the Fordham rebounders with nine... Fordham was without the services of sophomore guard Bryan Smith, who will miss the rest of the season after suffering a broken hand last Wednesday at George Washington... The Rams tied their season-low with seven assists.
