BRONX, New York — Fordham University helped create many of the University of Maine’s 27 turnovers on Saturday afternoon, helping set the tone for the Rams’ 70-53 men’s basketball victory.
Fordham (9-1), which claimed its ninth consecutive victory, scored 25 points as a result of the Black Bears’ miscues.
Coach Bob Walsh’s UMaine squad (2-8) lost for the fifth straight game.
Joseph Chartouny hit four 3-pointers on his way to 21 points and contributed seven rebounds and seven steals to propel the Rams, who outrebounded the Black Bears 43-30.
Ryan Rhoomes logged a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Antwoine Anderson added nine points and three assists.
Sophomore guard Kevin Little matched a career best with 25 points, including four 3-pointers, to pace UMaine. He was the team’s only double-figure scorer.
Devine Eke posted nine points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots and Shaun Lawton added seven points for the Black Bears, who made only five of 20 3-pointers (25 percent) amidst a 38 percent overall shooting effort.
Quick paced, back-and-forth action was featured early as the two teams exchanged the lead eight times in the opening 14 minutes.
However, Fordham pulled in front by outscoring UMaine 18-6 over the last 8 minutes, 36 seconds of the first half.
During that span, UMaine went 1-for-9 from the floor and committed nine turnovers. The hosts managed only seven points off those turnovers, but built a 35-26 halftime lead that it never relinquished.
Two Eke free throws at the 8:54 mark of the first half had given the Black Bears a 20-17 lead, but they struggled heading into intermission.
Anderson’s foul shot and a layup by Roomes tied the game for Fordham, the Jon Severe made one of two from the line and Chartouny scored a layup to give the hosts a three-point edge with 6:01 left in the half.
Neither team scored for almost two minutes before Chartouny stuck a 3 and Little answered for UMaine with a conventional three-point play. But Nemanja Zarkovic drove in for layups 17 seconds apart, Rhoomes converted two free throws and, Anderson dunked after an Aaron Calixte turnover to help send the Rams on their way.
Fordham extended its advantage to as many as 18 points in the second half and UMaine never was able to get closer than 10.
The Black Bears return to action on Monday night with a 7:05 contest at Holy Cross.