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St. Louis, Mo. (January 18, 2014) – It was a classic example for experience versus youth and, as in most cases, experience won out as 24
th-ranked Saint Louis, who started five seniors, defeated Fordham University, who started one senior, three sophomores and a freshman, 70-48, in an Atlantic 10 game in the Chaifetz Arena.
With the loss, the Rams fall to 7-10 overall, 0-4 in the Atlantic 10, while Saint Louis, who won its eleventh straight, improves to 17-2 overall, a perfect 3-0 in the conference.
Facing a Saint Louis defense that entered the game leading the Atlantic 10 and ranking sixth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 59.0 ppg, and leading the conference and ranking 22
nd in the country in defensive field goal percentage (36.1%), the Rams knew that points would be at a premium and they were, as Fordham was held to its lowest offensive output of the year. The Rams shot 29.0% (18-62) from the field and attempted a season-low nine free throws.
Freshman
Jon Severe led the Rams with 20 points but highlighting Fordham's offensive woes was an uncharacteristic scoreless game from senior guard
Branden Frazier, who entered the contest averaging 19.0 ppg. It was Frazier's first scoreless game as a Ram.
The game got off to a slow start as neither team could put the ball in the hoop. The two squads combined to score just 16 points over the first ten minutes with the Billikens holding a 9-7 lead following a Severe three-pointer with 10:32 on the clock.
The Billikens then took advantage of Fordham fouls, scoring eight points from the free throw line in a 13-0 run as the home team took a 22-7 lead with 4:43 left on a pair of Jordair Jett charity shots.
A Severe jumper 18 seconds later stemmed the Saint Louis streak and the Rams would get the deficit to ten, 24-14, later in the half following a Severe three-pointer with 3:27 remaining in the half.
But the Billikens closed out the first 20 minutes with a 6-2 spurt to take a 30-16 lead at the beak.
Saint Louis opened the second half scoring the first nine points to extend its advantage to 23, 39-16, on a Dwayne Evans jumper two minutes into the period and the closest the Rams would get from that point would be 16, 47-31, on a pair of
Ryan Rhoomes free throws, which capped an 8-2 Fordham run, with 13 minutes left.
Bryan Smith finished with nine points, hitting three three-pointers, and he added three rebounds for the Rams while Rhoomes scored eight points and grabbed eight boards and Thomas netted six points and had three steals.
The Rams return to action on Wednesday, January 22, as they host the newest Atlantic 10 member, the George Mason University Patriots in the Rose Hill Gym at 7:00 p.m.
Notes
It was the third time this year that Fordham started Frazier, Severe, Myers, Thomas and Rhoomes, the first since the win at Manhattan… The game was Severe's ninth 20-point of the year… Rhoomes is averaging 10.8 rpg over the past four games… The 16 first half points was a low for scoring in first half for the Rams this year (previous low was 21 at Syracuse)… The previous low for free throws attempted for the Rams was eleven against Howard… Fordham made four free throws, a season-low (previous low was nine against Furman and Howard) and the Rams were also held to a season-low 18 field goals (previous low was 19 against Dayton)… The Rams have not won a game played west of the Mississippi since a victory over Central Missouri on November 2, 2007 in the CBE (a streak of seven straight losses)… Fordham is now 1-7 in the Show Me state and 186-199 all-time against fellow Jesuit schools… Former Fordham assistant and NBA head coach Stan Van Gundy was the color announcer for the NBC Sports Network telecast… Some of the Rams braved the strong, cold winds and ventured a few blocks away from the hotel to see the famous St. Louis arch after breakfast… Jett scored 1,000
th point in the game for Saint Louis… The announced attendance of 9,265 was the largest home crowd of the year for Saint Louis… The game was one of many this season between the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities across the United States as part of the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight. Dedicated to academic rigor, research, faith and serving others, Jesuit, Catholic education stands at the intersection of minds, hearts and souls.
