Fordham ended its season the same way it started it, with a double-digit defeat at the hands of a ranked opponent.
The Rams (10-19, 3-13 Atlantic 10) were no match for 25th-ranked Temple in the 80-60 loss. It was Fordham’s second double-digit loss to the Owls this season. The last time Fordham defeated Temple was in 2007-08.
“[Temple] is a really good basketball team,” Fordham head coach Tom Pecora said. “I thought throughout the season they were the cream of the crop in the conference. This Temple team, they play at a great pace.”
Temple, which had already clinched the top seed in the A-10 tournament, was powered by its trio of guards, Ramon Moore (16 points), Juan Fernandez and Khalif Wyatt (10 points, seven assists), who combined for 45 of the Owls 80 points. Fernandez’s 19 points led all scorers.
“We talked about [Temple’s guards] the first time we played them,” Pecora said. “They’re quick but they never hurry, they’re explosive. Fernandez is just a great player, I’ve loved him for four years. He dribbles the ball down late in the clock and then just elevates and drills a jumper. When you have the ball in the hands of a player like that, you’re not going to have many empty trips. ”
The Owls (24-6, 13-3 A-10) set the tone early, scoring nine straight points to open the game. Fordham’s first basket came from junior forward Chris Gaston (18 points, nine rebounds) at 16:30.
Despite the opening flurry, the Rams were able to keep it close for the majority of the first half before Temple stormed ahead in the closing minutes. Branden Frazier converted a three-point play to bring the Rams to within four points before Temple slammed the door shut on Fordham’s hopes and went into the locker room with a 40-30 lead.
“We got it to four [points] then there were a series of plays. The turnover, the intentional foul and then boom,” Pecora said. “Good teams like Temple close you out at the half. You get around and then at the end of the half they get a couple of buckets and extend the lead.”
Fordham matched the Owls bucket for bucket to open the second half, but was unable to cut the lead to fewer than eight points before Temple pulled away for good.
Temple outscored the Rams 36-20 in the paint and was able to capitalize on Fordham’s miscues. The Owls scored 28 points off of 16 Rams turnovers.
“I think the game came down to their free throws and our turnovers,” Pecora said. “The turnovers hurt us…16 turnovers is not going to beat a top 25 team. We made some poor decisions, especially on the fast break a couple of times.”
For the Rams, who will lose defensive stalwart Kervin Bristol as well as Alberto Estwick and Ryan Hage, March Madness will consist of two weeks off and getting back to work right as the national champion is crowned.
“We’ll get back to basketball right after or right before the Final Four,” Pecora said. “This is where they get their break.”
Despite its best finish since 2007-08, Fordham finished in last place in the Atlantic 10 for the fourth straight season.
“We didn’t reach that one goal I had this year to get into the conference tournament,” Pecora said.
Pecora did not hang his head however, citing the Rams’ winning home (9-6) and non-conference records (7-6), as well as the fan support as the positives in the Rams’ season.
“The attendance is up, our donations are up, the talent is up, the number of wins is up,” Pecora said “That’s how I’m going to look at our season.”
Channeling his inner Joe Namath, Pecora said that Fordham will definitely be playing postseason basketball come next March.
“I guarantee we will be in the [A-10] conference tournament next year, because it’s expanding to 14 teams.”
asulla-heffinger@nypost.com