In a game where seemingly nothing went right, it’s hard to pinpoint what the killing blow was for the Fordham Rams. From almost right after tip-off, it seemed like the La Salle Explorers had complete control of the game, opening with a 5-0 lead that would only grow throughout the course of this game. Offensively, it seemed as if the Rams barely learned their lesson from their loss to George Washington on Wednesday.
Despite a second half that saw decent ball movement, the first twenty minutes of the game saw possession after possession of dumping the ball to Joel Soriano to the low post to either lay it in or kick it out to the corner for a Ty Perry brick. There were a couple decent shot opportunities throughout the game, but the Rams once again could not connect, especially from deep, shooting 4-for-27 beyond the arc.
While Joel Soriano notching a double-double in seven of his last eight games for the Rams (a stat that extends back to last season), it’s hard to be impressed when those stat lines come as a result of Fordham’s lack of offensive intensity. Soriano is a top big man in the A-10, but he can’t do it all every night for the Rams. Fordham also committed 19 turnovers, the highest they’ve recorded in a game since January 2018.
Defensively, Fordham could not handle the hot shooting hands of La Salle, who shot 57.9% from the field and 50.0 % from deep. The nationally ranked defense from last year is gone, which is strange, considering not many players left the team during the offseason. Four Explorers recorded scoring numbers in the double digits, with Scott Spencer and Jack Clark putting up two of the better performances. Spencer finished with 16 points off of 71% shooting, while Clark notched 15 while shooting 50% from three point range. Despite forcing 12 turnovers off of the Explorers, Fordham was unable to capitalize in transition, scoring just 7 points off of turnovers.
At 0-2, it’s nearly impossible to keep blaming a lack of practice and a late start for conference play woes. At their current level of play, the Rams have a rough road ahead on their way to March. Their next game is at home against a Dayton Flyers team who also dropped one to La Salle last week, albeit a bit closer.
