UDC Falls to Mansfield, 81-66

 Washington, DC: December 30, 2009-- The Mansfield University Mountaineers orchestrated a scoring clinic today for the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Men's Basketball Team as they dropped points in from all over the court in defeating the Firebirds, 81-66, at the UDC Sports Complex.  Yuseff Carr led the Mountaineers to the win scoring 17 points, and collecting 9 rebounds.

 Mansfield shot 56 percent ( 14 for 25) in field goals, 78 percent (7 for 9) from beyond the arc and 61 percent ( 11 for 18) from the charity stripe in the first half, to go into the break with a 46-35 lead. UDC shot 50 percent ( 11 for 22) from field goal range, 72 percent (13 for 18) from the free-throw line and 0 percent ( 0 for 5) from three-point range.

 UDC fought back in the half cutting the lead to 11 on two junior guard Tim Ellison's ( Alexandria, VA) free-throws, from a high of 21 points with 34 seconds remaining.

 In the second half the Firebirds trimmed the lead to 6 with  17:24 remaining in the game as they made a 6-1 run in the opening minutes of the half, then cut it again to 6 with 13:55 remaining. That was as close as they would come as the Mountaineers responded by opening up a 19 point lead before going on to win by 15.

 Mansfield had 5 players in double figures for the game, including Yuseff and Tony Fannick with 15 points and 2 rebounds, Chris Pender with 14 points , 7 rebounds, Derrison Anthony with 14 points, 2 rebounds, and  Justin Simmons with 11 points, 3 rebounds.

 Freshman forward Dyrek Jones scored a game and career -high 21 points, and grabbed 7 rebounds  to lead the Firebird scoring, followed by Ellison with 16 points, 4 rebounds; freshman guard Keith Brooks ( Harlem, NY) 12 points, 3 rebounds and freshman guard Nigel Munson ( Washington, DC) with 10 points, 3 rebounds.

The tightly officiated game resulted in 40 total team fouls and a technical foul on UDC Head Coach Jeff Ruland as the Firebirds were out muscled on the boards 32-22. UDC had trouble defending the much bigger Carr as he controlled the boards. However, UDC did not go quietly as they took advantage of their free-throws, converting 21 of 30  for a 70 percent completion rate.

Mansfield's 55 percent ( 28 for 51) field goal shooting for the game, 50 percent (8 for 16) completion from beyond the arc, and 63 percent ( 17 for 27) shooting from the charity stripe paved the way to victory lane.  Mansfield's bench outscored UDC's 22 to 5.

UDC (1-11) will return to action on Monday, January 4, in a 5 p.m., home game against Alderson Broaddus College.