St. Louis, Mo. – A few days ago, Vervet monkeys were spotted near a park in the northern part of St. Louis. Though it's not clear how they got there, they were no danger on Wednesday night as Vervet monkeys are diurnal, sleeping in trees at night. Unfortunately for the Fordham men's basketball squad Billikens (whatever species they may be) don't rest at night as the team from Saint Louis University shot over 50% from the field to defeat the Rams, 78-56, in an Atlantic 10 contest in the Chaifetz Arena.
With the loss, Fordham falls to 10-8 overall, 1-4 in the Atlantic 10, while Saint Louis improves to 16-1 overall, 4-0 in the conference.
Grad student guard
Dejour Reaves led the Rams with 18 points while senior guard
Christian Henry added 12 points and four assists. Junior center
Jack Whitbourn grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds.
How it Happened
• The Billikens jumped out to a 19-9 lead over the first nine minutes.
• The Rams then responded with a 13-4 run to cut the deficit to one, 23-22, on a
Louis Lesmond three with 8:16 left in the half.
• But Saint Louis went on a 15-2 run to take a 14-point lead, 38-24, with 3:47 remaining in the first half.
• The Rams trailed by 14 at the half, 44-30, but Reaves opened the second half with a Reaves three to pull within 11, but that was as close as the Rams would get.
Notes
• Fordham lost despite a 37-36 rebounding advantage.
• It was the first time this season that the Billikens were outrebounded in a game.
• The Rams cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 16 offensive boards in the game.
• Fordham was without redshirt freshman forward
Abass Bodija and freshman forward
Roor Akhuar due to injuries.
• Saint Louis entered the game leading the Atlantic 10 in scoring, averaging 92.8 ppg, while the Rams entered the game tops in the A-10 in scoring defense, allowing 63.9 ppg.
• The Billikens also entered the game leading the Atlantic 10 in both three-point shooting percentage (.384) and three-point percentage defense (.271). They shot .400 in the game while holding the Rams to .231.
• The two teams entered the game as the top two rebounding teams in the conference with Saint Louis leading the A-10 in rebounding offense (43.8) and the Rams rebounding defense (30.0). The Billikens grabbed 36 tonight while the Rams collected 37.
By the Numbers
11.0 – Rebounding average for
Jack Whitbourn over the past five games.
14 – Games this year the Rams grabbed double digit offensive rebounds.
14 – Rebounds for
Jack Whitbourn, a season-high (previous high was 12 at Dayton).
65 – Career double figure scoring games for
Dejour Reaves.
What's Next?
• The Rams continue Atlantic 10 play by returning to the Bronx to host the Duquesne University Dukes on Saturday, January 17, in the historic Rose Hill Gym at 12:30 p.m. on the USA Network.
• It will be the 53rd meeting between Fordham and Duquesne on the hardwood.
• The Dukes lead the all-time series, which started in the 1949-50 season, 30-22, but the Rams have taken six of the last eight meetings, including the first matchup last year, 65-63, on January
26 in the Rose Hill Gym as Josh Rivera hit a corner three with 24 seconds left.
• The Dukes took the rematch, 73-64, in Pittsburgh on February 19 behind as five Dukes scored in double figures.
