UDC Men’s Basketball Falls to Division I Duquesne 97-81 in the 2K Sports Classic Benefitting Coaches vs Cancer

Valparaiso, IN – The University of the District of Columbia Men's Basketball Team battled hard but could not come away with the victory against Division I opponent Duquesne University at the 2K Sports Classic Benefitting Coaches vs Cancer.  The Dukes outscored the Firebirds 37-21 over the final eleven minutes of the game to close out the win 97-81.  The Firebirds and Dukes both sit at 2-1 on the year after the contest. 

The Firebirds led for most of the first half, holding a six point lead with 10:02 to play in the first half.  Duquesne closed the gap and took the lead 40-38 headed into the locker room at halftime.  The game which saw six lead changes throughout remained close well into the second half, and the score was tied at 60-60 with 12:07 to go.   The last 11 minutes of the game belonged to Duquesne, however, and the Firebirds ran out of gas down the stretch. 

The Firebirds played excellent defense for the first 30 minutes, holding Duquesne to only 37% shooting in the first half.  The Dukes broke open midway through the second, however, shooting 75% in the second half and 60% from three point range.   The Firebirds remained consistent from the field shooting close to 46% in both halves and 45% from three point range. 

UDC was paced by its two senior captains once again as guards Nigel Munson (Washington, DC – DeMatha HS) and Brandon Herbert (Baltimore, MD – McDonogh HS) came up big for the Firebirds.  Munson scored 20 points on 8-17 shooting to go along with 7 assists and 7 rebounds while Herbert scored 20 points on 10-17 shooting.  Senior guard Dishawn Bradshaw (Baltimore, MD – St. Frances Academy) and junior guard Keith Brooks (Harlem, NY – Monsignor McClancy HS) also aided the effort with 12 points and 11 points respectively. 

UDC Head Coach Jeff Ruland had this to say about the game, "It was a good opportunity and experience for our kids and for our program to play in this type of event against a quality Division I team.  We did what we wanted to do for three quarters, but we got away from the things that kept us in it for the first 30 minutes.  We played great defense for most of the game, and it was a heck of an effort.  Duquesne is probably the most talented team we will play all year, so hopefully this prepares us for the rest of our schedule and ECC league play."

UDC is a Division II member institution, and this season marks the first that the University of the District of Columbia will compete in the East Coast Conference. The Firebirds return to action on Sunday in Valparaiso, IN for the second matchup in the 2K Sports Classic against Indiana-Kokomo at 7:00 pm.