The Fordham men (6-1) were victorious in the second game of a Fordham men’s/women’s doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Rose Hill Gym in the Bronx. The sixth straight home game victim was the winless Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils (0-7). The six game winning streak was last accomplished by the Rams during the 2000-1 season. The Rams most recently began their season with a 6-1 mark also in 2000-1.
The one-sided Fordham victory was only close during the first few minutes of action. Blue Devil guard Khalen Cumberland scored the first three baskets for the visitors to give them a 6-4 advantage at 18:06, which was the final lead for CCSU in the contest. Fordham Coach Jeff Neubauer told reporters his team focus on stopping the best player on the opposition and held him to three points and forced him into five turnovers during the remainder of the game. A 22-8 scoring run by the Rams led to a double digit lead, 26-14, at 9:44. Fordham closed the half with a 17-1 run to lead, 47-23.
They also netted the first four points in the second stanza to take the game out of contention. By the middle of the second half, Fordham had built its advantage to a game high 39 points, 73-34.
Neubauer, who wants his team to have an effective defense, commented, “Except for the first four minutes, our defense was solid.” Fordham’s 12 steals and two blocks kept them in second place in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
In order not to needlessly embarrass his opponent and to give his bench additional opportunity to be on court, Neubauer used 11 players for double figures of minutes and played no one for more than 21 minutes. After the game concluded, he told reporters, “This is who we are. We’ve got to have a lot of contributors. We need more from our bench.”
Five Rams scored in double digits. Mandell Thomas’s 12 points raised his career total to 1,178, which tied Jermaine Anderson for 21st place on the Fordham scoring list.
Fordham shot 53.3% from the floor, the fourth game in which they have better 50%. The team leads the A-10 in shooting percentage.
When asked about the positive effect on his players and their fanes the success has thus far achieved, Neubauer replied, “It’s to develop some momentum. That’s what the pre-conference season is for. I’ve definitely felt a sense of pride that’s developed here.”
Fordham will remain at home and host LIU-Brooklyn on Tuesday night, December 8.
The Fordham women easily won the opener, 74-57, over the Delaware State Hornets. Hannah Missry led the team with a career high of 30 points.