Second Half Cold Spell Dooms Men’s Basketball

Bronx, N.Y. – Chinese general, military strategist, writer and philosopher Sun Tzu once said, "Opportunities multiply as they are seized." That was so true for the St. Bonaventure University men's basketball squad today as they seized on 15 offensive rebounds to defeat Fordham University, 68-54, in an Atlantic 10 game in the Rose Hill Gym.
 
With the loss, Fordham falls to 1-4 overall, 1-4 in the Atlantic 10, while St. Bonaventure improves to 5-1 overall. 3-1 I the conference.
 
Fordham was paced by sophomore forward Joel Soriano, who notched his third double-double of the year with 12 points and ten rebounds, while sophomore guards Kyle Rose (11) and Chris Austin (10) also finished in double figures.
 
The game was knotted at 37 at the break but a cold second half for the Fordham offense doomed the Rams. Fordham shot just 27.3% (6-22) from the field over the final 20 minutes, scoring 17 points.
 
It was a two-point game, 45-43, following a Rose jumper 3:43 into the half, when St. Bonaventure scored six straight to take a 51-43 lead with 14:12 remaining and the closest the Rams would get from that point was five, 56-51 on a Jalen Cobb layup with 8:50 on the clock.

Takeaways
• The Rams started one freshman (Yame Butler), three sophomores (Joel Soriano, Kyle Rose, and Chris Austin), and one junior (Jalen Cobb).
 
• Joel Soriano now has a double-double in eight of his last eleven games dating back to last year.
 
• Soriano entered the game second on the Atlantic 10 in field goal percentage (.682) and connected on six of his nine field goals today.
 
• Chris Austin has scored in double figures in each of the past three games, averaging 15.7 ppg over that span.
 
• Yame Butler, who scored his first career points on a pair of free throws at Duquesne on Saturday,
connected on his first collegiate baskets today, finishing with five points.
 
• Senior guard Josh Navarro did not start for the first time this year due to an injury. He played 12:33 and scored five points.
 
 
By the Numbers
5 – Assists for Jalen Cobb who now has a team-leading 22 on the season.
 
9 – Three-pointers made by Fordham, a season-high.
 
10 – Lead changes in the game.
 
11 – Points for Kyle Rose, tying his career-high set against Dayton last week.
 
17 – Second half points for the Rams, a season-low.
 
37- First half points for Fordham, a season-high.
 
 
What's Next?
• The Rams continue their 2020-2021 Atlantic 10 season on Sunday, January 17, as they host the University of Massachusetts Minutemen in the historic Rose Hill Gym at 2:30 p.m. (note time change)
 
• The game will be broadcast in the NBC Sports Network.
 
• It will be the 48th meeting between Fordham and Massa­chusetts on the hardwood.
 
• The Minutemen lead the all-time series, which started in the 1967-68 season, 30-17.