38-point Second Half Isn’t Enough For Men’s Basketball Against Fordham

Loyola men’s basketball added on to their three-game lose streak with a 62-59 loss against Fordham University Feb. 18. Fourth-year forward Xavier Amos scored 19 points for the Ramblers. Fordham’s graduate guard DeJour Reaves took the game high of 24, scoring nine of those points off free throws. 

Reaves got the game started with a three-point play, being fouled by second-year guard Kayde Dotson, to give the Rams a 3-0 lead. Second-year guard Daniil Glazkov answered with a 3-pointer, and Amos drove in a layup to take the advantage. 

Fordham’s fourth-year guard Christian Henry tied the game with a layup, but Amos drained a three to keep the advantage with the Ramblers. Redshirt first-year Rams forward Abass Bodija made a lone free throw, giving third-year forward Akira Jacobs the chance to hit a three to take the 9-8 lead. 

A free throw from fourth-year center Alexander Richardson tied it at nine before Reaves hit a three to take the lead for the Rams, one they’d hold on to for the rest of the game. 

One at the line from Amos was matched with a successful trip from Reaves before the Rams claimed a 12-point lead over the Ramblers — courtesy of two 3-pointers from Jacobs and first-year forward Roor Akhuar and a layup from graduate guard Marcus Greene. Richardson scored a lone field goal for the Ramblers to decrease the lead to 10. 

After a minute of scoreless play, Reaves made two at the line to prompt another Rams run. Greene slammed a dunk while Henry drained a three and Bodija hit a layup, claiming a 19-point lead over the Ramblers. 

It was then the Ramblers’ turn to go on a run, prompted with four points from Amos — a layup and a successful trip — and a three from third-year guard Deywilk Tavarez. A minute-and-a-half later, Amos drove in another layup to keep the Loyola run going, but another scoreless drought was broken by a jumper from Fordham’s second-year guard Kingston Price, ending the run and the first half with the Rams ahead 33-21. 

Despite the slow start, the Ramblers upped their game in the second half, outscoring the Rams 38-29. 

The Rams started the second half on a 6-0 run, courtesy of a three from Jacobs, a Reaves jumper and one at the line from Bodija. A minute later, Amos scored the first points for Loyola with a successful trip to the line. 

Two more from Amos and a jumper from third-year center Miles Rubin brought the Ramblers within 12, but Henry increased the lead with a jumper, followed by two at the line from Reaves for a 43-27 advantage. 

The Ramblers picked up some momentum going on a 7-1 run. Rubin and Tavarez both added layups while Dotson drained a three. The lone point for the Rams was a single free throw from Bodija. 

Reaves hit two consecutive jumpers before another Rambler run, inching them closer to the Rams. Amos took a successful trip to the line before four consecutive Rubin field goals. Bodija and Henry snuck points in with a dunk and jumper, decreasing the Fordham lead to 52-44. 

Richardson’s one at the line was negated by a successful trip from Bodija before Amos and Fordham’s third-year forward Rikus Schulte each added one. A Dotson three kept the Ramblers close, followed by two at the line from Richardson to make it a four-point game with just over four minutes remaining. 

A Tavarez three narrowed the score to one and Reaves kept it in favor of the Rams by driving in two layups. Rubin made a layup of his own before a successful trip from Reaves. Henry scored the final points for the Rams on a lone free throw, and Dotson made a last-second 3-pointer, ending the game in favor of Fordham 62-59. 
The Ramblers remain on the road for their next matchup against Saint Joseph’s University, hoping to come back from the 85-64 loss picked up earlier this season. The Feb. 21 tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. and can be streamed on ESPNU.