BRONX, N.Y. (Nov. 3, 2024) – The Fordham men’s basketball team will open the 122nd season in program history on Monday evening when it takes on longtime local rival St. John’s at Carnesecca Arena. Tip-off in Queens is set for 6:30 p.m. on FS1.
Alex Faust and Tarik Turner will have the call on FS1. For the fourth straight year, the BIG EAST and its media partner, Fox Sports, will be providing “whiparound” coverage of college basketball’s opening night on FS1. Similar to NFL RedZone, you will be able to catch pieces of the game, but not the whole thing, on FS1. If you wish to watch the Fordham-St. John’s game in its entirety, you must go to FoxSports.com/Live or download the Fox Sports app on your smartphone, tablet or smart TV. You will then be prompted to log in with your cable provider credentials, which should carry no additional charge if your cable package carries FS1.
The game will also be carried live on 90.7 FM WFUV and on the WFUV Sports YouTube page.
The Rams enter their third season under the direction of Head Coach Keith Urgo, who won more game in his first two seasons leading Fordham than any head coach since Johnny Bach in 1950-51 and 1951-52. The 2023 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year welcomes back more than 60 percent of his scoring from a season ago, led by Japhet Medor and Will Richardson, both of whom averaged 9.8 points per game in 2023-24. Rising junior Joshua Rivera averaged 7.7 points in just 18.9 minutes per contest during his first year with the Rams.
In the front court, Fordham returns its leading rebounder and shot blocker from a season ago in sixth-year senior Abdou Tsimbila, who averaged 7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, the last of which ranked second in the A-10 and 18th nationally.
The Rams welcome back two additional upperclassmen who saw consistent minutes last season in Romad Dean and Zach Riley.
Fordham picked up two key transfer portal additions in the offseason, welcoming Jackie Johnson III and Matt Zona to Rose Hill. Johnson began his collegiate career at Duquesne, averaging 9.5 points per game before spending the next two seasons at UNLV. Last season, he appeared in all 34 contests for a Runnin’ Rebels team that won 21 games and reached the quarterfinals of the NIT. Zona returns home to New York after playing four years at Notre Dame. The Blauvelt native played in 33 games last year as a senior, averaging career highs of 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
The Rams carry four scholarship freshmen: Aleksander Pachucki, Ryan Pettis, Kingston Price and Jaden Smith. Smith, a 6-foot-11 center, was a four-star recruit according to ESPN and is the Rams’ highest rated prospect since Chris Gaston in 2009. Pettis, a 6-foot-4 guard from East Palo Alto, Calif., logged 18 minutes in the Rams’ exhibition win over Holy Cross, recording seven points and four steals.
In addition to their win over the Crusaders, Fordham also defeated UMBC at the Rose Hill Gym to complete a perfect preseason. Johnson led the way for the Rams in each of those victories, scoring 20 points against Holy Cross and 23 against UMBC. The senior shot 8-of-17 from beyond the arc in those two exhibitions and averaged 6.0 boards per contest.
Entering its second year under the direction of Hall of Fame Head Coach Rick Pitino, St. John’s sits just two spots outside the Associated Press Top 25 to start the season. Picked to finish fifth in the BIG EAST by a vote of the league’s coaches, the Red Storm returns five players from last season’s team that won 20 games and narrowly missed an NCAA Tournament bid, led by UMass transfer RJ Luis at 10.9 points per game.
During the offseason, St. John’s picked up the top-rated transfer class in the country according to EvanMiya.com. The Johnnies welcomed in Kadary Richmond, an All-BIG EAST First Teamer last season at Seton Hall after averaging 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the NIT Champions. The Johnnies also added transfers Vince Iwuchukwu (USC), Deivon Smith (Utah) and Aaron Scott (North Texas). Smith led the nation and set a Pac-12 record with five triple-doubles last season, averaging 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game for the Utes. Aaron Scott was a force for the Mean Green last season against Fordham at Barclays Center, logging 10 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks in the losing effort.
Fordham and St. John’s will meet for the 91st time in the history of the two programs, a series that dates back Jan. 30, 1909. It will mark the third game in four years between the New York City schools. Fordham is 22-68 all-time in the series and last defeated the Red Storm during the 2015-16 season at the Rose Hill Gym. The Rams are 0-19 against the Johnnies at Carnesecca Arena (formerly Alumni Hall) since 1962.
