UMass vs Fordham Triple-Overtime Classic: A Record-Breaking Night in the Bronx

A Historic Encounter at Rose Hill Gym

The UMass Minutemen and the Fordham Rams staged a dramatic triple-overtime matchup on Wednesday night at Fordham’s Rose Hill Gym in the Bronx. What began as a routine Atlantic 10 conference game turned into a three-hour, heart-stopping thriller that ended with Massachusetts outlasting Fordham, 120–118.

For context, both teams entered the evening ranked near the middle-to-lower range of NCAA Division I scoring—UMass was 215th and Fordham 225th in offensive production. By the end of the night, they combined for 238 points, set new building records, and even triggered some of the wildest stats college basketball has seen in years.

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Eye-Popping Individual Performances

• Rahsool Diggins: The senior guard notched 46 points for UMass, breaking a Rose Hill Gym record previously held by none other than Julius Erving (37 points in 1970).
• Daniel Rivera: Another senior for the Minutemen, Rivera added 29 crucial points to Diggins’ output.
• Jackie Johnson III: The senior guard for Fordham led the Rams with 36 points, launching an incredible 18 attempts from beyond the arc.
• Japhet Medor: The graduate guard contributed 25 points, spearheading Fordham’s valiant comeback through three overtimes.

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Astonishing Team Stats

1. Record-Breaking Total Points
   • Both squads combined for 238 points, the most ever scored in Rose Hill Gym’s 100-year history.
   • No game at Rose Hill had previously reached three overtimes.
2. Foul Trouble and Free Throws
   • Nine players fouled out across both rosters, while four others finished with four fouls.
   • There were 122 free throws attempted, translating to 2.2 free throws per minute of game time.
   • Fordham sank 48 free throws—more points than then–No. 1 Tennessee scored in an entire game at Florida.
3. Efficiency and Shooting Woes
   • Despite scoring 118 points, Fordham shot only 35.3 percent from the field.
   • UMass missed 20 free throws but still reached 120 points.
4. Rebounding and Second Chances
   • A total of 119 rebounds were grabbed, leading to 57 second-chance points.
   • Bench contributions were massive, combining for 76 points.
5. Romad Dean’s Final-Second Heroics
   • Down 97–92 with three seconds left in the first overtime, Fordham’s Romad Dean hit a clutch three-pointer—his first trey in three games.
   • After UMass split a pair of free throws, Dean was fouled on a desperation half-court shot. His three made free throws sent the game into double overtime.

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The Legacy of a Triple-Overtime Thriller

The teams traded leads eight times in the final 20 minutes of gameplay, tacking on a remarkable 80 points in the overtime periods alone. While neither program currently sits atop the Atlantic 10—UMass is tied for 11th, and Fordham sits at the bottom—their perseverance and high drama captured national attention for one unforgettable evening.

After tipping off at 7 p.m., this triple-overtime spectacle finally concluded close to 10:45 p.m. It will be remembered not only for the sheer number of points but for the resilience, the record-setting performances, and the sheer will displayed on the court.

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