Fordham Rams Hold Off Rhode Island Rams 70-66 Behind Dejour Reaves' 19 Points

The Fordham Rams, ranked 187 in the NET rankings, pulled off a stunning 70-66 upset over the Rhode Island Rams, who are ranked 125 in the NET rankings, on February 14, 2026, at the Thomas M. Ryan Center. This 4-point victory marked a significant Quad 2 win for Fordham, improving their record to 14-12, while Rhode Island fell to 14-11. Dejour Reaves led the charge for Fordham with 19 points and 5 rebounds, outpacing Rhode Island's top performer, Tyler Cochran, who scored 25 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. The Fordham Rams trailed by 7 points at halftime, 31-24, but managed to outscore Rhode Island 39-32 in the second half and 7-3 in overtime to secure the win.

The game was closely contested throughout, with both teams trading baskets in the first half. Rhode Island took a 31-24 lead into halftime, thanks in part to Tyler Cochran's 12 first-half points. However, Fordham came out strong in the second half, with Dejour Reaves scoring 11 of his 19 points in the final 20 minutes. The Fordham Rams outscored Rhode Island 39-32 in the second half, forcing the game into overtime. In the extra period, Fordham dominated, outscoring Rhode Island 7-3 to secure the 70-66 win. The Rhode Island Rams were led by Cochran's 25 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of the Fordham Rams, who had three players score in double figures. Fordham's Rikus Schulte added 17 points and 9 rebounds, while Christian Henry chipped in with 16 points and 6 rebounds. Rhode Island's Myles Corey scored 11 points, but the team's bench was outscored 10-5 by Fordham's reserves.

The top performers for both teams were impressive, with Tyler Cochran leading the way for Rhode Island with 25 points and 9 rebounds. Dejour Reaves was the top performer for Fordham, scoring 19 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Rikus Schulte and Christian Henry also had big games for the Fordham Rams, scoring 17 and 16 points, respectively. For Rhode Island, Myles Corey added 11 points, while Keeyan Itejere scored 8 points. The Fordham Rams' balanced attack was too much for the Rhode Island Rams, as they outscored their opponents by 4 points in the paint, 32-28. Fordham also outrebounded Rhode Island 42-38, including 12-9 on the offensive glass.

The box score reveals some interesting statistics from the game. Fordham outscored Rhode Island 39-32 in the second half, thanks in part to their 44.7% shooting from the field. The Fordham Rams also outrebounded Rhode Island 42-38, including 12-9 on the offensive glass. Rhode Island struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 25% (5-20) from three-point range. Fordham wasn't much better, shooting 30.8% (4-13) from three-point range. The Fordham Rams also committed 15 turnovers, but managed to force 12 turnovers from the Rhode Island Rams. The game saw a total of 136 points scored, with Fordham scoring 70 and Rhode Island scoring 66.

The CHD Scout predicted a 73-65 win for Rhode Island, with a 7.9-point margin. However, the actual result was a 70-66 win for Fordham, with a 4-point margin. This means the prediction was off by 10.9 points, and the wrong team was chosen as the winner. The CHD Scout missed the fact that Fordham would come out strong in the second half, outscoring Rhode Island 39-32. The model also underestimated the impact of Dejour Reaves, who scored 19 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. The prediction comparison shows that the CHD Scout was incorrect, with an actual winner of Fordham and an actual margin of 4 points.

This win was a significant Quad 2 victory for the Fordham Rams, who improved their record to 14-12. The loss was a Quad 4 defeat for the Rhode Island Rams, who fell to 14-11. The Fordham Rams' NET ranking is currently 187, while the Rhode Island Rams are ranked 125. This win could help Fordham's tournament resume, as they now have a Quad 2 win over a team ranked higher than them in the NET rankings. The Rhode Island Rams, on the other hand, will likely see their NET ranking drop after this loss. The game was a crucial one for both teams, with Fordham looking to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. With this win, Fordham improved their Quad 2 record to 2-5, while Rhode Island fell to 1-6 in Quad 4 games.

The Fordham Rams want to build on this momentum as they face their next opponent, while the Rhode Island Rams will try to bounce back from this tough loss. Fordham's next game is scheduled for February 17, 2026, against the Saint Joseph's Hawks, while Rhode Island will face the George Mason Patriots on February 18, 2026. Both teams want to improve their tournament resumes, and these upcoming games matters in determining their postseason fate. The Fordham Rams want to extend their winning streak, while the Rhode Island Rams will be trying to snap a losing skid.