NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a grinding Atlantic 10 contest defined by defense and missed opportunities, the Fordham Rams used a decisive edge in efficiency and a critical late surge to fend off the La Salle Explorers 64-58 on Wednesday night at Rose Hill Gym.

A crowd of 738 watched as the Rams improved to 11-10 overall, while the Explorers fell to 7-14.

The game’s pivotal sequence arrived in the final minutes with the outcome still in doubt. Clinging to a 60-58 lead, Fordham’s defense forced a crucial turnover from La Salle’s Ashton Walker with just eight seconds remaining. Rams guard Christian Henry was fouled and calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to four. After another La Salle miss, Henry was fouled again and hit two more from the line with eight ticks left, sealing the victory with the final points of the game. That four-point trip in the closing seconds capped a 6-0 Fordham run to end the contest, as La Salle failed to score in the final two minutes and twenty seconds.

The contest was a tale of offensive struggle, particularly for the visitors. La Salle managed to convert only 20 of its 59 field goal attempts, a frigid 33.9 percent, and went 4 for 18 from three-point range. Despite those woes, the Explorers stayed within striking distance thanks to a 34-32 halftime lead and a game-high 21 points from forward Jerome Brewer, who added seven rebounds. Rob Dockery contributed 14 points and five assists for La Salle.

Fordham, while not shooting lights out, was markedly more effective with its possessions. The Rams scored 64 points on just 61 trips, an offensive rating of 105.3, compared to La Salle’s 84.6 rating on 69 possessions. Fordham shot 24 for 58 from the floor and connected on 8 of 25 three-point attempts. More critically, they were a perfect 8 for 8 from the free throw line and committed only eight turnovers, which La Salle converted into just 10 points. Conversely, Fordham generated 18 points off nine La Salle giveaways.

The Rams’ offense was balanced, with four players scoring between 11 and 13 points. Akira Jacobs led the way with 13 points, including three three-pointers. DeJour Reaves added 11 points, four assists, and a key block, while Christian Henry finished with eight points, five assists, and three steals. The Rams’ interior defense was also impactful, recording three blocks, two of which came from Abass Bodija.

La Salle’s offense sputtered in the second half, scoring only 24 points after posting 34 before the break. The Explorers’ 16 fast-break points and 28 points in the paint were not enough to overcome their overall inefficiency and Fordham’s ability to capitalize on mistakes.

The win allowed Fordham to cover the pregame spread of -4.5, though the total score of 122 fell well under the over/under line of 131.5. The Rams now look ahead to a road game at George Washington on Saturday. La Salle, which had won two of its last three conference games coming in, will seek to rebound at home against Saint Joseph’s on Saturday.