Men’s Basketball Falls on Senior Day

Bronx, N.Y. – Ogheneyole Akuwovo, Antrell Charlton, Albe Evans, and Kyle Rose, They came from different places, played different positions, and were here for a different number of years. The one thing they had in common was that today was their final appearance in a Fordham basketball uniform in the historic Rose Hill Gym. Unfortunately the hometown Rams couldn't send the seniors off with a win as the Bronx Rams fell to the University of Rhode Island Rams, 58-50, in an Atlantic 10 contest.
 
With the loss, Fordham closes out the regular season with a 12-19 overall record, 6-12 in the Atlantic 10, while Rhode Island improves to 12-19 overall, 6-12 in the conference.
 
Fordham was led by sophomore guard Will Richardson, who finished with eleven points and four rebounds, while seniors Abdou Tsimbila and Japhet Medor each netted ten with Tsimbila adding seven rebounds.
 
Fordham shot 27.0% (17-63) from the field and 24.1% (7-29) from behind the arc as the home Rams had chances to get back in the game but couldn't seem to net a timely basket.
 
Fordham trailed by 12 at the half, 36-24, but opened the second half with a 14-7 run to cut the Rhode Island lead to five, 43-38, on a Romad Dean layup off a Rhode Island turnover. Dean and Tsimbila each netted four points in the run.
 
The Fordham offense then went cold as Rhode Island went on an 11-1 run to build a commanding 54-39 lead with 6:05 remaining
 
The Bronx Rams scored the next nine points to cut the deficit to six, 54-48, on a Tsimbila put back with 1:44 on the clock  but Fordham would get no closer.
 
Takeaways
• Kyle Rose, who had one steal today, entered the game second in the A-10 in steals (2.1/game).
 
• Abdou Tsimbila, who had two blocks today, has blocked at least one shot in 27 of his 30 games this year.
 
• Tsimbila entered the game second in the Atlantic 10 in blocks (2.3/game).
 
• Antrell Charlton has 52 assists and only 23 turnovers over the past 15 games.
 
• Over the past nine games, sophomore forward Romad Dean, who had four rebounds today, is averaging 6.1 rpg.
 
• Evans and Akuwovo made their first career starts for the Rams.
 
• A moment of silence was observed before the game in memory of Lonnie Jones, FCRH '87, a 1986-87 team captain for the Rams.

• Fordham recorded double figures in offensive rebounds (11) for the seventh straight game and the 26th time in 31 games this year.
 
• The Rams wore their black uniforms as it was a Black Out in the Rose Hill Gym today.
 
• Head student manager Alex Soumakis was also honored in the pregame ceremony.
 
By the Numbers
17 – Double figure scoring games for Will Richardson this year, a team-high.
 
70 – Blocks this season by Abdou Tsimbila, the seventh-best single season total for a Ram.
 
94 - Career starts by Kyle Rose.
 
133 - Consecutive games played by Kyle Rose
 
140 – Career games played by Kyle Rose, a school record.
 
164 – Career blocks for Abdou Tsimbila, moving him into fourth all-time at Fordham.
 
185 – Career three-pointers made by Kyle Rose, seventh all-time for the Rams.
 
213 – Career steals for Kyle Rose, sixth on the Fordham career list.
 
What's Next?
• The Rams will open the 2024 Atlantic 10 Championship on Tuesday, March 12, at Barclays Center against an opponent and at a time to be determined. As of this writing it looks like the Rams will enter as the 12-seed and play 13-seeded Davidson on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.