Bronx, N.Y. – The last time a Big Ten team came to the Rose Hill Gym Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president, gas was 19 cents a gallon, and the world's first parking meters were installed in Oklahoma City. That was 1935. And it may be another 83 years before a Big Ten school walks through the doors of the historic venue as freshman guard
Nick Honor scored a season-high 30 points, shooting 5-for-7 from behind the arc, to lead Fordham to a 78-70 win over Rutgers University on Saturday.
With the win, Fordham improves to 7-2 on the season while Rutgers falls to 5-4.
Honor shot 10-for-17 from the field and added six assists, while freshman guard
Jalen Cobb added 17 points and four rebounds, and junior guard
Antwon Portley finished with ten points.
The Rams trailed by five at the half, 31-26, thanks to a Cobb buzzer-beating three and outscored the Scarlets Knights 21-9 over the first 6:30 of the second half to take 47-40 lead on an Honor three.
Rutgers battles back, eventually taking a two-point lead, 56-54 with 6:56 remaining but a Cobb jumper in the lane ignited a 15-3 Fordham run as the Rams took a ten-point lead, 69-59, following an Honor three with 3:05 on the clock.
The Scarlet Knights closed within four, 72-68, with just over a minute left but that was as close as they would get.
Takeaways
• The win snaps a five-game Rutgers winning streak in the all-time series which Fordham now leads, 28-27.
• The first visit by a Big Ten team to the Rose Hill Gym was Purdue on February 9, 1935, 1a 46-39 win for the Boilermakers.
• The last time Rutgers played in the Rose Hill Gym was February 16, 1980, a 42-39 Fordham win.
• The last win for the Rams over a Big 10 opponent was a 63-60 victory over Northwestern on December 22, 2001.
• The 78 points scored by the Rams ties for the second most of any Rutgers opponent this year.
• Rutgers entered the game ranked 21st in the NCAA in defensive scoring average (60.8 ppg).
• Fordham volunteer assistant video coordinator
Stephen Zurich was a two-year letter winner at Rutgers (2013-2015).
• The 30 points scored by Honor was the most by a Fordham freshman since
Jon Severe netted 35 against Duquesne in 2014.
• Junior
Jesse Bunting, who has a knack for drawing charges, drew a big one for the Rams with 35 seconds left and the Rams leading by five.
By the Numbers
4 – Three-pointers made by Rutgers, a season-low for the Scarlet Knights.
7 – Free throws made by
Jalen Cobb, a season-high.
8 – Rebounds by junior
Jesse Bunting, a team-high.
10 – Three-pointers made by the Rams, the fifth game this year Fordham hit double figures in three-pointers made (Fordham entered the game leading the A-10 in three-pointers made/game at 10.0).
30 – Points scored by
Nick Honor, a season-high (previous high was 28 vs. FIU).
What's Next?
• The Rams will host the NJIT Highlanders in the Rose Hill Gym on Tuesday, December 11, at 8:30 p.m.
• It will be the second meeting between Fordham and NJIT on the hardwood.
• The Rams took the first meeting, 88-44, on December 8, 2007 in the Rose Hill Gym.
• The Rams are 7-3 all-time against teams currently in the Atlantic Sun conference (2-1 vs. Jacksonville State, 2-1 vs. Stetson, 1-1 vs. Kennesaw State, 1-0 vs. Lipscomb and 1-0 vs. NJIT).
