Bronx, N.Y. – After watching Saint Peter's score 90 points in their first round game last night, the Fordham University Rams knew they would have their work cut out for them today when they took on the Peacocks. But for the second straight day the Ram defense stepped up, holding Saint Peter's to shooting just 35 percent from the field in a 63-41 win on day two of the Johnny Bach Classic in the Rose Hill gym.
With the win, Fordham improves to 3-1 on the year while Saint Peter's falls to 1-2.
Fordham allowed Saint Peters to connect on only 14 field goals (on 40 shots) in the game, including just a pair of three-pointers (on 16 attempts). The Ram defense also forced the Peacocks into 26 turnovers and recorded 15 steals.
Sophomore guard
Joseph Chartouny led the Rams with 14 points, shooting 5-for-7 from the field, while also grabbing four rebounds, dishing out four assists and recording four steals. Graduate
Javontae Hawkins also scored in double figures for Fordham, finishing with eleven points and adding five rebounds.
Saint Peter's jumped out to a 9-3 lead 3:21 into the game before the Rams' offense got on track, scoring 14 straight points to take a 17-9 lead on a Chartouny steal and layup midway through the half. Chartouny had six of the 14 Fordham points in the run.
A Chazz Patterson layup at the 9:27 mark stopped the Fordham run and the Peacocks trailed by seven, 20-13, with 7:57 left in the first when the Rams ran off eight consecutive points to take a 28-13 led following a Chartouny three-pointer.
Fordham took a 33-20 lead into the break and opened the second half with eight unanswered points, four from Chartouny, to build a 41-20 lead 3:36 into the second half.
After Saint Peter's got the Fordham lead to 19, 41-22, with 15:51 left, Fordham exploded for a 15-2 run to take a commanding 56-24 lead with 12:25 on the clock. The closest the Peacocks would get from that point was the final 22-point margin.
Antwoine Anderson and
Christian Sengfelder each added eight points for the Rams, with Anderson adding three steals, while
Prokop Slanina finished with seven points and four rebounds.
The Rams close out play at the Johnny Bach Classic on Sunday when they host Lipscomb University in the Rose Hill Gym at 3:30 p.m. The game will be preceded by a contest between FDU and Saint Peter's.
Notes
The win was the 1,498th in school history.
Fordham now leads the all-time series with Saint Peter's 36-15 but this was the first meeting since 1990.
The Rams blocked a season-high four shots today.
Fordham was a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe and are 31-for-35 over the past two games.
All 15 players who dressed for the Rams played in the game.
