UPJ Hands UDC Second Season Defeat 82-73

JOHNSTOWN, PA: FEBRUARY 10, 2007— In an exciting game, the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Mountain Cats defeated the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds, 82-73, for their second win over the visiting Firebirds this season. Five Mountain Cats scored in double figures to give them the win, while Chris Gilliam provided the leadership with 24 points, eight rebounds, two assists and three steals.

UPJ took an early lead, including a 9-0 run that UDC ended after calling a timeout and getting the ball to junior forward Willie Shaw (Alexandria, VA), who made a lay-up with an assist from sophomore guard Brian Adams(Washington, DC) at 15:51 of the game. However, UPJ came back with another scoring spurt of 7 points to take a 19-4 lead.

The Firebirds closed the gap to three, at the break, and the Mountain Cats took a 42-39 half time lead. UPJ shot 58 percent (18-31) from two-point range, and 75 percent (6-8) from three-point range for the first half. UDC shot 52 percent (17-33) from two-point range, 18 percent (2-11) from three-point range, and 100 percent (3-3) from the charity line.

UDC cut the lead to 1 (51-50) at the 14:20 mark of the second half on a 3 pointer by junior guard Frank Petersen (Silver Spring, MD), but UPJ built the lead up again before UDC tied them at 61, on a Petersen  free throw, at the 10:11 mark.  Petersen then made the second of two free throws to give the Firebirds their first lead of the game 63-61.

UPJ came back to tie the score at 63, but UDC’s Brian Adams hit a three pointer to put them ahead 66-63, before UPJ scored 8 unanswered points to take a 70-66 lead. Junior guard Charlie Smallwood (Palmer Park, MD) hit a 3 pointer  with 3 minutes remaining in the game to bring UDC to within one (72-71), but UPJ out rebounded the Firebirds, scored and pulled away for the win.

In addition to Gilliam, others scoring in double figures for UPJ were J. J. Schumacher (16), Quinton Davis (13), Dwight Hines (13), and Marcus Tullis with 12 points.

Charlie Smallwood led the Firebirds in scoring with 18 points, followed by Frank Petersen (16), Brian Adams (14), and Willie Shaw with 14 points.

The Mountain Cats shot 50 percent (29-58) from two-point range, 60 percent (9-15) three-point range and 68 percent (15-22) from the free throw line for the game.

The Firebirds shot 45 percent (27-59) from two-point range, 27 percent (6-21) from three-point range and 81 percent (13-16) from the three-point line for the game.

The 14-7 Firebirds will be in action again, at home, on Wednesday, February 14, against the Claflin University Panthers. They defeated the Panthers 57-54 in overtime on January 13, in Greenville, South Carolina during the HBCU Classic.