UDC Men Lose to Philadelphia University, 60-56

Washington, DC: January 28, 2009—A second half rally by the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds fell short tonight as they lost to the Philadelphia University Rams, 60-56, in the Physical Activities Center. Junior guard Frederick Russell led the Rams to the win with a game-high 22 points and 5 rebounds.

Three Rams were in double figures, including Russell. Junior forward Malcolm Ingram scored 15 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, and senior guard Mike Dunn added 10 points and collected 4 rebounds.
Philadelphia went into the half-time break with a 26-19 lead on 30 percent (7 for 23) shooting from the field, 21 percent (3 for 14) from beyond the arc, and 69 percent (9 of 13) free-throw shooting. After knotting the game at 8, 13:59 into the game, Philadelphia lead by as much as 13 points before going into the break ahead by 7 points.

The second half UDC rally was ignited by junior forward David Burton (Philadelphia, PA) and sophomore guard Tim Ellison (Alexandria, VA). Burton started it with two layups at the beginning of the half to cut the Ram lead to two; then Ellison made a layup and hit a 3-pointer after Philadelphia extended their lead to 11 points. UDC chipped at the lead then cut it down to two points on another Burton free-throw.

UDC reduced the lead down to 1 point with 2:29 remaining in the game on a layup by freshman center Ryan Woods, but the Rams built it back up to 5 before Ellison got it back down to 1 point with a 3-pointer.  The Rams held on for the win after making three of four free-throws on UDC fouls.

Burton led the Firebirds in scoring with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Ellison with 17 points and 3 rebounds.  Senior guard Kechan Myers (Philadelphia, PA) added 12 points and 8 rebounds.
With this win Philadelphia improved to 15-3, while UDC fell to 7-13 for the season. UDC returns to action on February 2, against Pitt-Johnstown at home.