Firebirds Sweep Pfeiffer Season Series with 97-96 Win
Washington, DC: January 29, 2011--Junior guard Nigel Munson (Graphic Design-Washington, DC) converted four free-throws within the final 9 seconds of the game between the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Men's Basketball Team and the Pfeiffer University Falcons. The free throws lifted the Firebirds to a 97-96 win today at the UDC Sports Complex in Washington, DC. It was the second Firebirds win over the Falcons during this season. The win improved the Firebirds record to 6-12, while dropping the Falcons record to 7-10.
Junior guard Brandon Herbert (Sociology-Baltimore, MD) paced the Firebirds to the win with 27 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal, going 10-15 from the field and making 6 of 8 three-pointers, while Munson followed with 21 points 3 rebounds, 9 assists and 1 steal. Senior guard Tim Ellison (TV Broadcasting-Alexandria, VA) added 18 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, while sophomore guard Brandon Ennis ( Mass Media- Ontario, Canada) chipped in 11 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist.
The Firebirds had the momentum in the first half of the game taking a 55-53 lead into the halftime break. Three Firebirds had already reached double digit scoring before the break.
The momentum swung in the second half as Pfeiffer senior forward Chris Woods began score inside against the Firebirds; he scored 31 of his 38 points in the half while grabbing 10 rebounds. The Falcons substituted liberally in the half, finally knotting the score at 62 with 15:46 remaining, they took a 65-62 lead at the 14:53 mark.
The Firebirds bent but would not break as a series of shots by Herbert, Munson and Ellison kept the game close, but the Falcon's Woods kept giving his team second opportunities with 10 offensive rebounds and his 31 point scoring spurt. A critical Falcon foul with 2 seconds remaining in the game sent Munson to the free-throw line to give the Firebirds their one point advantage.
Pfeiffer dominated the boards, pulling down 42 rebounds to UDC's 31. Pfeiffer also held the advantage in bench points 24 to 11, 2nd chance points 19 to 6 and point scored in the paint, 38 to 20. UDC held the advantage in points made off turnovers, scoring 15 to Pfeiffer's 12.
The Firebirds return to the court on February 2, against the Apprentice School, at 6 p.m., in Newport News, Virginia. Their next home game will be Thursday, February 10th against Livingstone College at 7 pm.