Two sets of Rams butted heads in The Bronx last night, with Fordham emerging with its first Atlantic 10 victory of the season.
Fordham (8-9, 1-3) beat Rhode Island (3-16, 0-4) 66-64 at the Rose Hill Gym, despite not bringing its best effort.
”When you play poorly and win, that’s a good sign,” Fordham coach Tom Pecora said. “We didn’t rebound the ball well. We didn’t reach a lot of our game goals, but we found a way to win.”
Fordham took the lead with 28 seconds left after senior guard Alberto Estwick hit a 3-pointer right in front of his teammates. Estwick scored a season-high 18 points, including four 3-pointers.
”I just tried to stay focused,” Estwick said. “I saw Branden [Frazier] cut to the basket, I faded to the corner and just made sure when I got the ball to bend and extend and knocked down the 3.”
Rhode Island stayed in the game until the buzzer, and sophomore guard Billy Baron (22 points) had a chance to win the game but failed on his last-second 3-pointer.
Pecora said he became Fordham and Estwick’s biggest cheerleader in the closing seconds.
“I’m thrilled, especially for Alberto, as a senior who stuck with it through good times and bad times,” Pecora said. “When he took that last shot in the corner, I was like ‘God, if anyone deserves to make this, it’s this kid.’ ”
Last night’s performance was refreshing for Estwick, who lost his starting job and hadn’t scored in double figures all season.
Pecora praised Estwick for working with Branden Frazier (19 points, six assists), who led the team in scoring over the past four games.
”Part of [Frazier’s development] is [Estwick] and how good of a teacher he has been, how patient he’s been, even though his role has changed and he’s not a starter anymore,” Pecora said. “No matter what his role is, Alberto comes to work and takes care of business every day.”
Estwick and Frazier took over after Fordham’s leading scorer and rebounder Chris Gaston was ejected late in the first half after receiving a flagrant two foul. Gaston was held to two points and two rebounds in 13 minutes.
”[Losing Gaston] was challenging,” Frazier said. “I don’t know if it would be a difference with Chris here, but it was a big loss for us.”
Estwick assumed the role of leader with Gaston confined to the locker room.
”As the game went on and when Chris went out, I kept talking to the team, making sure they stayed focused and kept playing hard,” Estwick said.
With 1:02 left in the first half, following Frazier’s layup, the referees whistled Gaston for throwing a closed fist punch at a Rhode Island player. Rhode Island’s Jonathan Holton also was given a technical foul.
”[Gaston] has got to have more savvy than that,” Pecora said. “He’s got to understand how important he is to us and with greatness comes responsibility. He lost his cool for a split second and almost hurt this team.”
Any time a closed fist punch is thrown, an automatic flagrant two foul is assessed and the player is ejected.
The league will review the play and determine if Gaston can play against St. Bonaventure on Saturday.
asulla-heffinger@nypost.com