UDC Fights Hard, But Succumb In Overtime to Pitt-Johnstown, 84-77

Johnstown, PA: November 18, 2009-For the second time in their young 2009 season, the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Men's Basketball Team has fallen in overtime to an opponent. Tonight it was to the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Mountain Cats by the score of 84-77.

 Senior guard Andy Byer paced the Mountain Cats to the win scoring 18 points, grabbing 3 rebounds and giving 9 assists. Freshman guard Nick Novak added 17 points and sophomore forward Patrick Grubbs added a 16 point, 10 rebound double double performance.

 UDC took an early 10-8 lead in the game before UPJ came back to tie the score for the second time as the lead changed hands 5 times in the first period. UPJ led by 9 points (37-28) at the break on 49 (16-33) percent shooting.

 UPJ led by as many as 17 points in the second period before UDC, with sophomore guard Nigel Munson (Washington, DC) leading the way, began their comeback. Munson scored 14 of his game-high 29 points in the second period as the Firebirds whittled the lead down and freshman guard Keith Brooks (Harlem, NY) connected with a three-pointer to tie the score at 65. UDC regained the lead 73-72 with 57 seconds remaining in regulation on a shot by freshman forward Dyrek Jones (Brooklyn, NY), but UPJ freshman Noah Hartung made the front end of two free-throws to knot the score at 73 and force the overtime period. UPJ pulled away in overtime to build a 7 point lead and win the game.

Freshman guard Kenneth James (Arlington, VA) and sophomore forward Chris Leach (Washington, DC) scored 10 points apiece to round out the high scorers for UDC in the game, and freshman forward Dyrek Jones (Brooklyn, NY) pulled down 10 rebounds. It was another good performance for the young Firebirds, even though they came up short of the win.

 UDC (0-2) returns to action on November 24, at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts.