NEWS

Screenshot: The overtime tipoff in the game livestreamed on ESPN+.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – After Fordham’s Kyle Rose forced overtime with a last-second layup, the Rams outscored Davidson 10-2 in the extra session to win the opening game of the 2024 Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament, 71-63, Tuesday inside The Barclays Center.

The Wildcats, who dropped four overtime contests this season, end the campaign 15-17 overall, while the Rams advance to tomorrow’s second round where fifth-seeded VCU awaits.

Rose’s bucket at the end of regulation came after Reed Bailey made one of two free throws to put the ‘Cats up 61-59, with 23 ticks remaining.

Behind their second 8-0 run of the day, the ‘Cats pushed the margin to as many as 13, 37-24, with 14:49 to play.

Fordham (13-19) would later use a 21-8 stretch to erase the double-digit deficit and even the score at 52-52.

Connor Kochera led the Wildcats with 24 points and 7 rebounds in 45 minutes. Grant Huffman added 12 points, 5 boards and 5 assists in his final game.

Will Richardson scored 19 of 41 bench points for the Rams, who also finished with a 47-32 advantage on the glass, including 16 second-chance points. Fordham would also turn the Wildcats over a season-high 20 times, which led to 22 points at the other end.

Despite 13 first-half turnovers, Davidson closed the opening half with eight straight points capped by a Bobby Durkin triple at the buzzer to lead 27-19 at the half. In addition, the Wildcats limited Fordham to just one field goal over the last 7 minutes and 10 seconds of the period.

Defensively, Davidson held the Rams to just 35 percent from the floor and finished with 10 blocks, six coming from sophomore Sean Logan.