Basketball Runs Past St. John’s, 73-57

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Bronx, N.Y. – It's a whole new year for the Fordham University men's basketball seniors. Last week, Mandell Thomas and Ryan Rhoomes experienced their first three-game winning streak since arriving at Rose Hill while tonight they did something else for the first time. Beat St. John's. And it was the two seniors leading the way with Rhoomes netting a career-high 26 points and grabbing 12 rebounds while Thomas finished with 14 points and three steals to lead the Rams to a 73-57 win over the Red Storm in the Rose Hill Gym.
 
With the win, Fordham's fifth in a row, the Rams improve to 5-1 on the year while St. John's falls to 4-3. It is Fordham's first 5-1 start since 2000-2001 and first five-game winning streak since 2006-2007.
 
The double-double was Rhoomes' second straight of the year and the sixth of his career. He shot 10-for-13 from the field and is averaging 21.3 ppg and 10.3 rpg over the past three contests.
 

The Rams were led by a stifling defense that limited St. John's to just 25 first half points and held the Red Storm to shooting just 39.5% (17-43) from the field and 18.2% (2-11) from behind the arc.
 
It was a familiar scenario for the two teams. Five years ago the two squads faced off in the Rose Hill Gym with each side featuring a new head coach and the Rams mounted a wild second half comeback to beat the Red Storm. Even though both teams featured new head coaches again tonight, no last minute heroics were needed for Fordham as the Rams led from start to finish.
 
The Rams jumped out to a 6-0 lead over the first four minutes on baskets by Rhoomes, Thomas and Jon Severe.
 
St. John's cut the Fordham lead to one on two occasions later in the half, the second time at 16-15, on a Ron Mvouika layup with 9:41 remaining. Fordham then used an 12-2 run to build an eleven point lead, 28-17, following a Rhoomes put back with 5:38 left in the half.
 
After a pair of Felix Balamou free throws cut the Fordham advantage to nine, 28-19, a Severe three-pointer ignited a 7-0 Ram spurt as Fordham took a 35-19 lead with just over three minutes remaining and the Rams took a 16-pont lead into the break, 41-25.
 
Midway through the second half, the Red Storm managed to trim the Fordham lead to 12, 53-41, but the Rams responded with a 12-4 run to take a commanding 65-45 lead on a Rhoomes put back with 6:10 on the clock. Rhoomes led the run with five points.
 
Severe added 14 points for the Rams while Christian Sengfelder finished with eight points and five rebounds.
 
The Rams return to action on Saturday, December 5, as they host the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils in the Rose Hill Gym at 4:00 p.m.
 

 
Notes
Rhoomes was playing in front of his high school coach, Ron Naclerio, who recorded his 723rd career win at Cardozo High School on Tuesday, a PSAL record.
 
Thomas's 14 points brings his career total to 1,166 points, good for 22nd on the Fordham all-time scoring list.
 
Rhoomes' 12 rebounds bring his career total to 684, moving him ahead of Dan O'Sullivan and into 13th place on the Fordham career rebounding list.
 
Rhoomes, who entered the game leading the Atlantic 10 in field goal percentage (.733), increased his field goal percentage to .741 with his 10-for-13 night.
 
Rhoomes' previous career-high in scoring was 20, set against Manhattan on Saturday.
 
The 26 points ties Rhoomes with Thomas for the most points scored by a Ram this year (Thomas scored 26 against Manhattan).
 
Rhoomes also set career-highs for field goals made (former high was nine) and field goals attempted (former high was eleven).
 
The 57 points scored by St. John's ties for the fewest by a Fordham opponent this year (Queens also scored 57 against the Rams).
 
The Rams recorded a season-high 12 steals, Fordham's fifth straight double-digit steal game.