On Jan. 26, the Fordham Rams withstood the Duquesne University Dukes in a nail-biting home game at the historic Rose Hill Gymnasium with a final score of 65-63. The hard-fought Atlantic 10 (A10) victory marks a significant milestone for the Rams, who are currently without Head Coach Keith Urgo for the second consecutive game.
Urgo, serving a four-game suspension due to an ongoing NCAA investigation into potential recruitment violations, remains sidelined as Associate Head Coach Tray Woodall leads the team in his interim role.Woodall steered the Rams as they defended their home court against the Duquesne Dukes.
The Rams started out slow with their first bucket almost three minutes into the game when guard Jackie Johnson III, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’25, made a 3-pointer. However, the Rams struggled to make any baskets, with only 5 points ten minutes into the first half. After a brief timeout, The Rams began to regain composure as guard Johnson was fouled on a 3-point shot and made all three free throws, bringing the score to 17-16 with roughly six minutes left in the first half. The intensity ramped up as both teams exchanged baskets, culminating in a 29-28 Rams lead. With less than nine seconds remaining in the first half, David Dixson, Duquesne ’26, sank a clutch fadeaway, giving the Dukes a 1-point lead at halftime, 30-29.
The Rams started off strong in the second half with two quick layups, taking a 33-30 advantage. Fordham’s effort on the boards proved pivotal, as they dominated the rebounding battle with 41 total rebounds compared to Duquesne’s 27, including 16 offensive rebounds that fueled their scoring opportunities.
Despite Duquesne’s late push that gave the Dukes a 63-62 lead with under two minutes left, the Rams maintained their composure. With just 23.9 seconds remaining, forward Joshua Rivera, FCRH ’26, delivered the game-winning 3-point shot, securing a dramatic 65-63 victory for Fordham.
Leading players of the game included Rivera, who led the Rams with 16 points; Guard Japhet Medor, Gabelli Graduate School of Business (GGSB) ’25, with 14 points and seven assists; Romad Dean, FCRH ’26, with 12 points; and Johnson, with 10 points.
Despite the win, the Rams continued to struggle with their shooting efficiency, finishing the game at 39.2% from the field and 22.7% from beyond the arc. However, their dominance on the boards and timely scoring off of turnovers helped them overcome their shooting challenges.
In the postgame press conference, Woodall highlighted the team’s defensive strategy.
“Our biggest thing was just trying to play solid, allowing the offense to make mistakes and contesting shots, as we call it, ‘tagging and warring,’ to get an opportunity to finish possessions with a rebound,” Woodall said.
The win against Duquesne marks Fordham’s first A10 victory of the season. The win underscores the team’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure despite coaching uncertainties.
Fans can take heart from the Rams’ ability to secure a close win through teamwork and determination, signaling a promising path forward for the team as they navigate both on-court challenges and off-court obstacles.
On Jan. 29, the Rams earned their second A10 win after defeating La Salle University 88-72, improving to 10-11 overall.
On Feb. 1, the Rams fell short to St. Bonaventure University on the road in a tight game of 74-72.
Urgo will return to the sideline for the Ram’s matchup against the University of Rhode Island on Feb. 5.
