Fordham Rams Dominate Manhattan Jaspers in Battle of the Bronx, 82-53
Fordham University’s men’s basketball team delivered a resounding victory over Manhattan College, 82-53, in the annual Battle of the Bronx at rose Hill Gym on Saturday, marking a jubilant start to the Gaudete Sunday celebrations for Rams fans. The win elevates Fordham’s record to 8-4 on the season, while Manhattan falls to 4-7.
Rams’ Offensive Prowess on Full Display
Four Fordham players scored in double figures, led by a stellar performance from junior forward rikus Schulte, who achieved a game and career-high 21 points. Schulte’s efficiency was remarkable, shooting a perfect 10-for-10 from the field and securing 10 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double. Senior guard Christian Henry, named the Mike Cohen MVP of the game, contributed 19 points, six rebounds, and nine assists. Grad student guard Dejour Reaves added 18 points to the tally, and redshirt freshman Abass Bodija recorded a season-high 14 points with six rebounds.
Key moments in the victory
Fordham quickly established control, jumping out to an 18-13 advantage before embarking on a 7-0 run fueled by a basket from Dejour Reaves, extending their lead to 25-13 with 10:40 remaining in the first half. The Rams continued to build momentum, closing the half with a 43-26 lead.The second half saw fordham maintain its dominance, outscoring manhattan 39-27. Christian Henry orchestrated the offense effectively, dishing out 6.8 assists per game. Dejour Reaves has consistently contributed, scoring in double figures in all eleven games he has played this season.
Fordham’s offensive rebounding proved crucial, with Roor Akhuar leading the charge with four offensive boards, contributing to a total of 15 offensive rebounds that resulted in 13 second-chance points. This marked the tenth time this season the Rams have recorded double-digit offensive rebounds. Notably, Fordham never trailed in the game, despite being outscored at the free-throw line, 9-3.
In recent matchups at Rose Hill Gym, Fordham has consistently outperformed Manhattan, winning by an average of 30.5 points in the last two meetings (including a 93-61 victory in 2023). The Rams boast a significant ancient advantage in the series, with 117 games played against Manhattan – the most against any opponent – and 56 wins over the Jaspers, their most victories against any single team.
By the Numbers:
- 5: Double-doubles this season for Rikus Schulte.
- 8: Rebounds, a season-high, for roor Akhuar.
- 9: Assists by Christian Henry, tying his career-high.
- 10: Rebounds for Akira Jacobs, tying his career-high set earlier this year at Iona.
- 21: Points scored by Rikus schulte, a new career-high.
- 26: The rebounding differential, with fordham outrebounding Manhattan 47-21.
- 52: Points scored by the rams in the paint.
- 720: All-time wins in the Rose Hill Gym for Fordham.
- 1,585: All-time wins for the Fordham Rams basketball program.
Looking Ahead: Matchup with University of New Haven
Following a break for final exams,the Rams will conclude their non-conference schedule by hosting the University of New Haven chargers on Monday,December 22,at 11:00 a.m. in the historic Rose hill Gym for the annual Kid’s day game. This will be the first-ever hardwood meeting between the two programs. New Haven is in its inaugural year as an NCAA Division I program, transitioning from NCAA Division II, and competes in the Northeast Conference. Fordham holds a 54-14 all-time record against current members of the Northeast Conference, including victories this season over Wagner, LIU, and FDU.
