Box Score
Bronx, N.Y. – English writer, poet, playwright, and essayist Samuel Johnson once said, "Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance." Fordham interim head coach Michael DePaoli is living proof of that. He arrived on Rose Hill a little over eleven years ago to serve as the Rams' director of basketball operations. He did it all back then, from arranging travel and pregame meals to taking the garbage out. Today he added to his resume with his first career head coaching win as five Rams scored in double figures to lead Fordham to a 76-68 Atlantic 10 win over La Salle University in the Rose Hill Gym.
 
With the win, Fordham improves to 2-9 overall, 2-9 in the Atlantic 10, while La Salle falls to 8-11 overall, 5-7 in the conference.
 

The Rams were led by junior guard Ty Perry, who netted a season-high 18 points by shooting 6-for-9 from behind the arc, while sophomore guard Kyle Rose scored a career-high 15 points, and sophomore forward Joel Soriano notched his third straight double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Rams trailed for only 3:39 of the game and built a 37-24 lead at the break by holding the Explorers to shooting 33.3% (8-24) from the field and 18.2% (2-11) from behind the arc over the first 20 minutes.
 
La Salle got the Fordham lead down to five four times in the second half, the final time at 73-68 with just under a minute remaining. But the Fordham defense dug in and didn't allow another Explorer point.
 
Takeaways
• Joel Soriano has a double-double in each of the past three games and in seven of the eleven games this year.
 
• Chris Austin, who scored 13 points today, has netted double figures in seven of his last nine games.
 
• Fordham outscored the Explorers, 19-9, from the free throw line.
 
• The Rams also outscored La Salle in bench points, 19-14.
 
• The win snaps a nine-game losing streak to La Salle for the Rams.
 
• The game was a much different contest from the first meeting between the two teams, won by La Salle, 89-52, in Philadelphia.
 
• The game was originally scheduled for March 3 but was moved to today when the Fordham-Davidson game was postponed as the Wildcats are on pause.
 
By the Numbers
5 – Steals by Kyle Rose, a career-high.
 
6 – Three-pointers made by Ty Perry, tying his career-high.
 
6 – Assists by Josh Navarro, a career-high (previous high was five which he accomplished twice).
 
13 – Rebounds for Joel Soriano, tying his season-high.
 
14 – Points by Jalen Cobb, a season-high.
 
15 – Points scored by Kyle Rose, a career-high (previous high was eleven which he accomplished three times).
 
17 – Assists recorded by Fordham, a season-high.
 
18 – Points scored by Ty Perry, a season-high (previous high was 13 vs. Duquesne on Jan. 27).
 
19 – Free throws made by Fordham, a season-high.
 
655 – All-time wins in the Rose Hill Gym for the Rams.
 
1,540 – All-time wins for the Rams.
 
What's Next?
• The Rams continue their 2020-2021 Atlantic 10 season on Wednesday, February 10, as they travel to Fairfax, Va., to face the George Mason University Patriots in the EagleBank Arena at 7:00 p.m.
 
• It will be the 12th meeting between Fordham and George Mason on the hardwood.
 
• The Rams lead the all-time series, 7-4, taking the first six meetings.