Second-Half Surge Sends Bridgeport to Lopsided Win Over District of Columbia

BRIDGEPORT, CT – Trailing Bridgeport by just six at halftime, the University of the District of Columbia men's basketball team was out-scored 47-29 in the second half as the Firebirds suffered a 92-68 defeat in their East Coast Conference opener on Saturday afternoon at Hubbell Gym.

District of Columbia fell to 1-6 (1-2 in Division II play) overall and 0-1 in the ECC. Bridgeport improved to 3-6 overall and 1-1 in league play.

Junior transfer point guard Quasim Jones (Business Management – Philadelphia, PA/Johnson CC) and junior transfer forward Ralph Watts (Sociology – Peekskill, NY/Peekskill HS) led the Firebirds offensively with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Jones also added a game-high six assists.

Bridgeport had four of its starting five score in double-figures including Dion Waiters' game-high 17 points (eight rebounds). Ivan Simic added 16 points, Darian David pitched in 14 and Omari Howard registered 13 points (nine rebounds).

The Purple Knights had a glaring, 48-29 rebounding disparity which led to Bridgeport controlling a 46-26 edge in points in the paints and an 18-10 advantage in second-chance points. The hosts also out-shot District of Columbia 53-percent to 39-percent from the field on the strength of a 20-for-34 (59-percent) performance in the second half.

Bridgeport jumped out to a 14-7 lead on a three-pointer by Simic at the 15:43 mark, but the Firebirds answered with an 11-0 run, highlighted by three consecutive three-pointers by Watts, Jones and senior guard Keith Brooks (Journalism – Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy), respectively, and they led 18-14 at the 13-minute mark. A 15-3 Purple Knights charge propelled Bridgeport into the lead for good though, as they led 29-21 just past the nine-minute mark. The host's took a 45-39 lead into halftime.

The Purple Knights went on to out-score the Firebirds 20-6 over the first 7:36 as they took a commanding 65-45 lead at the 12:24 mark. Their lead grew to as many as 31 near the three-minute mark before District of Columbia closed the game out on a 6-0 run for the game's final score of 92-68.

The Firebirds will look to bounce back when they host cross town rival Bowie State on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.