Bronx, N.Y. – There was lots of rejoicing in the University Church at Fordham on Sunday as it was Gaudette Sunday. But there was little rejoicing in the Rose Hill Gym in the first half of Fordham's men's basketball contest with Tennessee State before the Rams gave their fans reasons to cheer in the second half before the comeback attempt came up short as Fordham fell to the Tigers, 69-61.
With the loss, Fordham falls to 5-5 on the year while Tennessee State improves to 7-4.
Junior forward
Chuba Ohams led the Rams with a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while senior guard
Antwon Portley and sophomore guard
Jalen Cobb each netted 12 points for Fordham.
The Rams trailed by 13 at the half, 36-23, shooting just 24.2% (8-33) over the first 20 minutes, and were down eleven, 38-27, 3:30 into the second half. A
Josh Colon three started a 14-3 run as the Rams tied the game at 41 on a Colon steal and layup with 13:11 remaining.
Fordham tied the game again later in the half at 55, thanks to an Ohams layup with 6:28 left, but the closest the Rams would get after that was two, 59-57, on a Portley basket at 2:25.
Takeaways
• The double-double was the third of the year for Ohams and the fourth of his career.
• Fordham head coach
Jeff Neubauer is very familiar with Tennessee State, having faced the Ohio Valley Conference foe 18 times previously as head coach at Eastern Kentucky.
• Neubauer is now 11-8 all-time against the Tigers.
• Fordham shot 59.3% (16-27) from the field in the second half.
• The Rams were outrebounded 45-29 in the game.
By the Numbers
10 – Points for
Josh Colon, a season-high.
11 – Steals by Fordham, the fourth game this year in which the Rams recorded a double figure steals total.
18 – Offensive rebounds by Tennessee State, the most for a Fordham opponent this year.
What's Next?
• The Rams return to play on Friday, December 20, as they host the James Madison University Dukes in the Rose Hill Gym at 7:00 p.m.
• It will be the fourth meeting between Fordham and James Madison on the hardwood.
•The Dukes lead the all-time series, 2-1, but the Rams took the most recent meeting, 75-48, in the Rose Hill Gym on December 20, 2018.
• Fordham is 22-17 all-time against schools currently in the Colonial Athletic Conference.
