Nov. 18, 2009

Final Stats

BRONX, NY - The Fordham Rams used a 21-2 run over a seven-minute span in the second to open up a two-point and waltz away with a 76-66 win over the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team at Rose Hill Gymnasium Wednesday night. The win snapped a 12-game losing streak for the Rams that dated to last season.

The Pioneers cut a Fordham lead to 51-49 with 10:31 to play in the game and had the ball with a chance to tie or go ahead. Senior Chauncey Hardy missed a wide open 15-footer and Jio Fontan answered with a three-pointer to put the Rams up five. A pair of Pioneer three-point misses, and a Fahro Alihodzic bucket made it a seven-point game with 8:41 to go and SHU wasn't able to mount another charge.

Fordham, 1-2, scored the first ten points of the game, forcing the Pioneers into four early turnovers. SHU would turn it over a season high 22 times, watching the Rams turn them into 21 points.

Despite the rough start, the Pioneers whittled away at the Ram lead and a Corey Hassan three with 7:25 left in the first half, followed by a Chaucey Hardy basket with 6:25 remaining, had SHU within a point at 21-20.

The Rams used an 8-0 run - all of them coming from freshman forward Chris Gaston - put Fordham back out in from 29-20 with 3:56 left. Gaston finished the game with 22 points and 13 boards to lead Fordham.

A Breton Butler bucket with :54 to go in the half would push the lead to ten, but Ryan Litke canned a three at the buzzer to make it 37-30 at the intermission.

Hassan had another huge game for the Pioneers, finishing with a career-high 33 points and 11 rebounds. Litke was the only other Pioneer to hit double figures in scoring with 12.

The Pioneers, who had shot 54 percent from the floor in their first two games, were held to 39 percent (25-63) by the Ram defense.