Jalen Cobb Beats Buzzer and Columbia

Bronx, N.Y. – At his postgame press conference, Fordham head coach Jeff Neubauer talked about his young team learning how to win. Tonight's lesson may earn the Rams a Phd as Fordham. Trailing Columbia by four with 13 second remaining and then again by one with eight ticks on the clock, freshman guard Jalen Cobb hit a jumper in the lane at the buzzer to lead the Rams to a 70-69 win over Columbia on day three of the Johnny Bach Classic in the Rose Hill Gym.
 
With the win, Fordham improves to 4-1 on the season while Columbia falls to 0-4.
 
The Rams trailed by four, 69-65, with 13 seconds remaining before an Ivan Raut three-pointer pulled the Rams within one five seconds later. Junior forward Chuba Ohams stole the inbounds pass from the Lions and the Rams worked the ball to Cobb who hit the game-winner in the lane as the buzzer sounded.
 
Freshman guard Nick Honor led the Rams with a game-high 17 points while Cobb finished with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists, and junior guard Antwon Portley added 15 points.
 
Takeaways
• The Rams improve to 8-0 all-time in games played as part of the Johnny Bach Classic.
 
• Fordham opens the season with a 4-1 record for the third time over the past four years.
 
• The Rams improve to 23-5 in non-conference home games over the past four years.
 
• Fordham leads the all-time Columbia series, 52-26, and has taken four of the last five matchups.
 
• Nick Honor missed his first free throw of the year after making his first 13 over his first four collegiate games (he then made his next three).
 

• Senior Jesse Bunting missed a free throw in the first half to snap a streak of 17 consecutive made charity shots.
 
• Columbia entered the game averaging 82.0 ppg and were held to a season-low 69 by the Rams.
 
• The Rams and the Lions were the first teams to use the three-point line, experimenting with the shot in a 1945 game won by Columbia (the line was set 21-feet from the basket – Columbia scored eleven long goals and the Rams nine).
 
By the Numbers
6 – Blocks for the Rams tonight, led by four from Chuba Ohams.
 
9 – Different players to score in the game for Fordham.
 
10 – Three-pointers made by Fordham, the third time over the first five games that the Rams have connected on ten or more three-pointers.
 
62 – Points scored by Nick Honor in the three games over the weekend.
 
1,521 – All-time wins for the Rams.
 
What's Next?
• The Rams have a week off before hosting Alabama A&M University on Sunday, November 25, in the Rose Hill Gym at 2:00 p.m.
 
• It will be the first meeting between Fordham and Alabama A&M on the hardwood.