Men's Basketball Takes Down FDU, 53-50

Men's Basketball Takes Down FDU, 53-50
 
Antwon Portley's three with 17 second left the deciding basket
 
Bronx, N.Y. – Fordham head coach Jeff Neubauer likes to challenge his team to do something that has never been done, or hasn't been done in a while. The Rams answered his challenge tonight, doing something that has not been accomplished by a Fordham men's basketball team since 1996. Open the season with back-to-back wins over a Division I team.
 
The Rams hit only four three-pointers in the game but the fourth one was the most important as a three from senior Antwon Portley bounced around the rim and in with 17 seconds remaining that put the Rams up for good, 52-50.
 
Fordham led for most of the second half until a Kaleb Bishop layup with 38 second remaining gave the Knights a 50-49 lead. However, Portley answered with his three and Ivan Raut made a steal on FDU's ensuing possession that led to a Portley free throw to put the Rams up 53-50.
 
FDU had one last chance for the tie but a Jahlil Jenkins three at the buzzer bounced out.
 
With the win, Fordham goes to 2-0 on the year while FDU falls to 1-2.
 
Takeaways
• The last time Fordham opened the season with back-to-back wins over Division I opponents was 1996 when the Rams opened with wins over Columbia and Holy Cross.
 
• Fordham opened with back-to-back wins last year (the first over Division III CCNY) and in 2007 (second win was over Division II Central Missouri).
 
• The Rams defeated postseason teams in each of the first two wins (FDU won the NEC last year and went to the NCAAs while St. Francis appeared in the Collegeinsiders.com postseason tournament).
 
• Chuba Ohams made the defensive play of the night when he drew a charge on Jahlil Jenkins with 1:12 remaining and the Rams up by one.
 
• Jahlil Jenkins entered the game averaging 19.0 ppg for FDU but was held to just eight by the Rams tonight.
 
• The largest lead of the night was seven by Fordham, 33-26, following an Onyi Eyisi basket with 16:38 left.
 
By the Numbers
1 – Three-pointers made by FDU (on 14 attempts).
 
2 – Blocks for Chuba Ohams.
 
10 – Career-high rebounds pulled down by Antwon Portley tonight (previous high was nine at George Washington last year).
 
12 – Steals recorded by Fordham, the second straight games with double-figures steals.
 
13 – Points by Onyi Eyisi, a team  and career-high.
 
20 – FDU turnovers forced by the Rams.
 
What's Next?
• The Rams return to action on Saturday, November 16, as they host Marist College in the historic Rose Hill Gym at 7:00 p.m.
 
• It will be the third meeting between Fordham and Marist on the hardwood.
 
• The Rams won the first two matchups, including an 89-72 win in the Rose Hill Gym on December 23, 1980 in the most recent matchup.
 
• It will be the first of two Fordham games against a MAAC opponent this year (Manhattan).