With the 2020 spring sports season canceled by the COVID-19 outbreak, we at Fordham have decided to dig back through our archives and provide our fans with content on some of the outstanding teams and student-athletes who have graced Rose Hill over the years
Read game stories on the Patriot League Championship Game/NCAA Play-In game in The Ram
Bronx, N.Y. - 29 years ago today, the second-best season in Fordham basketball history came to an end as the Rams fell to Massachusetts, 78-74, in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament in a packed Rose Hill Gym.
The 1990-1991 Rams won the Patriot League with an 11-1 conference record and defeated Holy Cross, 84-81, in overtime in the league championship game in Worcester, Mass. It was a Jean Prioleau step-back, three-pointer at the overtime buzzer, his third game-winning three of the year, that gave the Rams their first league title since a MAAC championship in 1983. Damon Lopez was named both the Patriot League Player of the Year and the championship MVP.
Since the Patriot League did not have an automatic bid to the NCAA at the time, Fordham was forced to travel to Saint Francis (Pa.) for a play-in game. Unfortunately, the Red Flash were able to keep Lopez and Prioleau in check as they defeated the Rams, 70-64.
Dave Buckner matched his career-high with
25 points in the NIT win at South Florida
Despite the loss to Saint Francis, the Rams were still hopeful for an NCAA at-large bid with a 24-7 record, the best mark of any team not selected to play in the NCAAAs that season, but when it failed to materialize, Fordham was invited to the NIT.
Fordham opened the NIT with a trip to Tampa to face South Florida, defeating the Bulls by ten, 76-66, as the Rams scored the final 15 points of the game. The run was ignited by a Dave Buckner three as he matched his career-high with 25 points in the game, hitting six of seven shots from behind the arc.
The second round NIT match-up with the Minutemen on March 19 was in the Rose Hill Gym, which was filled to capacity as the Rams took to floor. According to head coach Nick Macarchuk, Fordham was surprised by UMass' athleticism, which disrupted the Ram offense. The Minutemen used a zone defense to contain Lopez, who attempted only five shots in the game, and came out on top, 78-74.
Fordham finished the season with a 25-8 record, the second best mark in school history to the 1970-1971 team which went 26-3.
