Men’s Basketball Takes Down Black Bears

Bronx, N.Y. – There's a saying in Downeast Maine that someone who is cheap or frugal is "tighter than two coats of paint." That expression could have been used to describe the Fordham men's basketball stifling defense in the first half of today's game with the University of Maine. The Rams held the Black Bears to shooting just 28% from the field over the first 20 minutes and withstood a Maine second half comeback attempt to defeat the visitors from up north, 87-72, in the historic Rose Hill Gym.
 
With the win, Fordham's third straight, the Rams improve to 6-5 on the year while Maine falls to 6-5.
 
Senior guard Jackie Johnson III and junior forward Romad Dean paced the Rams with 16 points each , with Johnson adding six assists and Dean five rebounds, while grad student forwards Abdou Tsimbila and Matt Zona, and junior forward Joshua Rivera, each added ten points with Tsimbila grabbing eight rebounds and blocking two shots, and Rivera pulling down a season-high seven boards.
 
Fordham used its tight defense to jump out to a 21-6 lead nine minutes into the game with Johnson netting five of the points and Japhet Medor adding four.
 
The Rams got the lead to as many as 19 in the first half, 33-14, on a Zona layup with 4:22 left, but the Black Bears whittled away at the Fordham advantage to cut their deficit to 14 at the break, 37-23.
 
Fordham held a 13-point lead, 42-29, 2:30 into the second half but six straight Maine points cut the Rams' advantage to seven, 42-35, 1:30 later.
 
After the teams exchanged baskets, the Rams led by seven with 14:43 left, 44-37, when they went on a 17-5 run to take a commanding 61-42 lead midway through the half following a Tsimbila layup and the closest Maine would get from that points was 12, 78-66, with 2:18 remaining. Dean scored seven in the Fordham run, connecting on back-to-back threes, while Tsimbila added six.
 
Takeaways
• Since returning to action after missing the first four games of the year, sophomore guard/forward Jahmere Tripp is averaging 12.0 ppg, shooting 52.6% from the field (30-57) and 47.1% (8-17) from long distance.
 
• Romad Dean is averaging 14.5 ppg and 7.0 rpg over his last two games, shooting 3-for-5 from behind the arc.
 
• Matt Zona tied his career-high with ten points, first set in 2023 against NJIT while he played at Notre Dame.
 
• Jackie Johnson has scored in double figures in all eleven games this year.
 
• Fordham recorded its third straight 80-point game and are averaging 84.7 ppg over the past three games.
 
• The Rams recorded 19 assists on 31 made baskets.
 
• The Rams now lead the all-time series with Maine, 4-2.
 
• The Black Bears missed their first nine three-point attempts before connecting on their final three.
 
By the Numbers
4 – Steals by Romad Dean, a career-high (previous high was two which he accomplished twice).
 
6 – Assists by Jackie Johnson III, a career-high (previous high was five vs. FDU on Wednesday night).
 
10 – Steals by the Rams, the fourth double digit steaks game for Fordham this year.
 
13 -  Offensive rebounds by Fordham, the fourth straight game and eighth overall game that the Rams have double digits in offensive rebounds.
 
16 – Points by Romad Dean, a career-high (previous high was 13 set against FDU this year).
 
18 – Second chance points for the Rams.
 
+18 - +/- from Romad Dean in the game.
 
175 – Career blocks at Fordham for Abdou Tsimbila who had two today, fourth on the Fordham all-time list.
 
576 – Career rebounds at Fordham for Abdou Tsimbila, 22nd on the Fordham career list.
 
695 – All-time Fordham wins in the Rose Hill Gym.
 
1,597 – All-time wins for the Rams.
 
What's Next?
• After a week off for finals, the Rams continue the 2024-25 season by taking on the Bryant University Bulldogs at  Mohegan Sun as part of the Hall of Fame Showcase on Saturday, December 14, at 2:30 p.m.
 
• It will be just the second meeting between the Rams and the Bulldogs.
 
• Bryant took the first matchup, 69-61, in the Rose Hill Gym on December 10, 2019.
 
• The game will be the fourth of four games against America East opponents this year (Binghamton, New Hampshire, and Maine).
 
• The Rams are 18-6 against schools currently in the America East Conference.