Men’s Basketball Falls to Manhattan in OT

Bronx, N.Y. – Both teams knew that the annual Battle of the Bronx would be a 40-minute affair. Today it turned into a 45-minute game but it was the final 3.2 seconds that mattered most as Manhattan's Tyler Reynolds nailed a corner three to give the Jaspers the lead as Manhattan defeated Fordham, 54-53, in overtime, in the Rose Hill Gym.
 
With the loss, Fordham falls to 5-3 on the season while Manhattan improves to 4-3.
 
Erten Gazi led Fordham with a career-high 16 points, shooting 4-for-7 from behind the arc, while Antwon Portley added 15 points and five rebounds.
 
Following Reynolds' three, the Rams had a chance for the win but a Jalen Cobb three-pointer at the buzzer fell off the rim as the buzzer sounded.
 
Fordham, led for most of the game but the Jaspers closed out regulation with a 7-0 run to force the extra period, which included a Stewart three with just under a minute left in regulation.
 
Takeaways
• The Rams were outrebounded 46-44.
 
• It was just the third overtime game in the 112-game history between Fordham and Manhattan, the first since 1950.
 
• It was the lowest scoring game between Fordham and Manhattan since 1989 when the Rams defeated the Jaspers, 58-41.
 
• The 54 points were the fewest by a winner of the Battle of the Bronx since Manhattan won the 1939-1940 meeting, 41-34.
 
• Manhattan now leads the all-time series, 58-54.
 
• The Jaspers took a 2-0 lead 38 seconds into the game but the Rams led the rest of regulation until Stewart's tying three.
 
By the Numbers
3 – Blocks by Onyi Eyisi, a season-high.
 
3 – Steals by Onyi Eyisi, a career-high.
 
4 – Three-pointers made by Erten Gazi, a career-high (previous high was three vs. St. Francis).
 
10 – Steals by Fordham, the third time this season the Rams have recorded a double-digit steal total.

12 – Rebounds by Chuba Ohams, his third double-digit rebounding game of the season.
 
16 – Points for Erten Gazi, a career-high (previous high was eleven vs. St. Francis in the season opener).
 
18 – Turnovers forced by the Fordham defense.
 
What's Next?
• The Rams return to play on Tuesday, December 10, as they host the Bryant University Bulldogs in the Rose Hill Gym at 12:00 p.m. for Kid's Day.
 
• It will be the first meeting between Fordham and Bryant on the hardwood.
 
• Bryant is coached by former Fordham assistant/interim head coach Jared Grasso.
 
• Fordham is 65-29 all-time against schools currently in the Northeast Conference, including wins over St. Francis and FDU earlier this year.