By Joe Budzelek (@JBudzelek)
FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Fordham showed the resilience and rebounding prowess that could define its season, overcoming a 12-point first-half deficit before pulling away for a 79-62 exhibition victory over Fairfield at Leo D. Mahoney Arena on Saturday night. The Stags were without sophomore forward Declan Wucherpfennig, the Metro Conference preseason Player of the Year, and the Rams gradually took advantage, turning a competitive game into a convincing win behind a dominant performance on the glass and a decisive second-half run.
While Fordham boasts some of the best frontcourt continuity in the Metro Conference, Saturday’s victory was fueled by the second-half scoring of its transfer guards. Senior guard Lateef Patrick, who played last season at Stephen F. Austin, led all scorers with 20 points off the bench, shooting 7-for-12 from the field and 2-for-7 from beyond the arc. He scored 15 points after halftime.
Junior guard Amir Lindsey, who joined the Rams from Albany and shares physical and stylistic similarities with Dejour Reaves, added 18 points, four rebounds and three assists. His downhill scoring helped Fordham seize control late, with 12 points and five made free throws in the second half.
The contrast was especially apparent against Fairfield’s starting backcourt. Tony Williams and Eric Mejia combined to shoot just 2-for-20 from the field, struggling to provide the consistent scoring the Stags needed to keep pace with Fordham’s guards.
Freshman Hassan Koureissi made his debut in the starting lineup, finishing with six points and three assists. He showed early signs of the poise and creativity that could make him an important piece of Fordham’s backcourt, handling the ball confidently and using his shiftiness to navigate the defense and get downhill. His ability to create off the dribble gives the Rams another option to initiate the offense as he adjusts to the college game.
Fordham’s turnaround began before halftime, when head coach Mike Magpayo challenged his team to match Fairfield’s physicality after falling behind by 12.
“I just thought that Fairfield was just so much more physical than us to start the game, and they were playing with a lot of purpose,” Magpayo said.
During a timeout, he delivered a blunt message to his players: “I literally wrote on the board, ‘You are getting punked.’”
The message appeared to resonate. Fordham responded with a 12-0 run to pull within two at halftime, then scored the first seven points after the break to take a 39-34 lead. Fairfield briefly reclaimed the advantage at 45-44, but Lindsey answered with a three-pointer that sparked an 18-4 Fordham run. Patrick capped the stretch with a jumper, putting the Rams ahead, 62-48, midway through the half as they pulled away.
Fordham’s biggest advantage came on the glass. The Rams outrebounded Fairfield 51-29, including 15 offensive rebounds, while holding the Stags to just three second-chance points. Junior center Jack Whitbourn led the way with 15 rebounds in 19 minutes, including 11 defensive boards and four offensive rebounds. Senior forward Rikus Schulte added 11 rebounds, giving Fordham two players in double figures on the glass despite combining for just seven points.
For Magpayo, the rebounding edge offered a glimpse of how Fordham can create an advantage even if its perimeter shooting proves inconsistent.
“We don’t know if we’ll be a good shooting team or not,” he said. “I just think the size, that’s how we’re gonna do it. We’re gonna just war of attrition, play at a faster pace.”
Magpayo estimated the game featured roughly 76 possessions, making it one of Fordham’s faster contests in about a year and a half. He believes the Rams have the personnel to sustain that pace, pairing guards who can push the ball with frontcourt players who can continue to supply size and physicality as the game wears on.
That depth was reflected in the bench scoring, where Fordham held a 33-18 advantage. Patrick led the way with 20 points, while Kelvin Odih contributed six points and six rebounds in 15 minutes. Odih’s explosive athleticism and strong, compact frame offered a glimpse of his defensive versatility and ability to handle different matchups. Whitbourn’s rebounding production provided another example of how Fordham could change the game’s physical dynamic without relying on one lineup.
Magpayo credited his second unit with helping shift the momentum, pointing to players such as Odih, returning sophomore Roor Akhuar and Whitbourn as sources of energy and physicality. Akhuar finished with a team-best plus-20 rating in just 14 minutes, despite a modest box-score line. His length and defensive positioning helped limit Fairfield’s options in the halfcourt, offering an early look at the defensive identity Magpayo is building.
The challenge, Magpayo said, is maintaining that collective approach over a full season, particularly as playing time and individual production fluctuate.
“Our deal will be like: Can we be super selfless throughout the year and only care about winning?” Magpayo said.
For a team counting on its size and depth to wear down opponents, that willingness to embrace changing roles could prove as important as its rebounding advantage.
Fordham finished with 18 points off turnovers and converted 30 of 38 free throws, helping offset a 5-for-18 performance from three-point range. The Rams shot 40 percent from the field overall and improved to 44.4 percent after halftime, while Fairfield managed just 28 points in the second half.
The exhibition offered an encouraging first look at a Fordham team capable of winning with physicality, depth and timely scoring. The Rams will need more consistent perimeter shooting as the regular season approaches, but their response to Fairfield’s early pressure, dominance on the glass and execution during the decisive second-half run provided plenty of positives heading into the season opener.
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