Firebirds Torch NYIT, 100-67

WASHINGTON, DC – In what has been a tough season for the University of the District of Columbia men's basketball team, the Firebirds showed they have not given up on the season as they erupted offensively in their home gym Wednesday night to post a 100-67 East Coast Conference victory over NYIT.

All eight District of Columbia players entered the scoring column, including five in double-figures, but none stood out more than junior point guard Quasim Jones (Business Management – Philadelphia, PA/Johnson CC). The first-year transfer tied Nigel Munson ('12) for the school record with 16 assists while not committing a single turnover in 40 minutes of play for the second consecutive game. He also added 17 points on 6-of-18 shooting from the field (5-of-10 from three-point range) to complete a sensational night.

Also shining for the Firebirds were senior guard Keith Brooks (Journalism – Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy HS) with a career-high 23 points on 9-of-14 FG shooting (5-of-7 from long-range), junior transfer guard Ralph Watts (Sociology – Peekskill, NY/UAlbany) who shot 8-of-10 from the field (2-of-3 from behind-the-arc) to finish with 18 points, senior transfer forward D'Angelo Johnson (Mass Media – Washington, DC/Virginia St.) who also added 18 points in 22 minutes off the bench and junior transfer guard Michael Terry (Criminal Justice – Philadelphia, PA/Boston U) with a double-double of 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The 100 point scoring output is a season-high and marks the first time the Firebirds have hit the century mark in nearly a calendar year. They shot 40-of-70 (57-percent) from the field and 18-of-31 (58-percent) from three-point range, were outstanding in assist-to-turnover ratio (24/11), and they won the rebounding battle 35-29.

NYIT had just two players score in double-figures. Junior guard Phil Izevbehai, who played two seasons with the Firebirds before transferring at the end of last season, led the Bears with team-highs of 14 points, six rebounds and three assists. Khalif Chaplin also came off the bench to add 11 points.

The Firebirds, who have been devastated all year long by slow starts, could not have asked for a quicker start tonight. After Kayvon Roberts knocked down a jumper for the game's first points, District of Columbia connected on its first five three-point attempts of the game, including two by Brooks, as the Firebirds raced out to a 17-6 lead in the opening five minutes of play. That 2-0 lead would be the Bears' only lead of the night, as the Firebirds dominated the first half from that point on.

District of Columbia effectively put the game out of reach with a 26-7 run that spanned 8:35 and put the Firebirds ahead 52-22 with just over two minutes to play in the first half. The Firebirds, who shot a red-hot 63-percent (22-of-35) from the field and a scorching 77-percent (10-of-13) from long-range, took a 54-26 lead into halftime.

The Bears never got any closer than 22 points as the Firebirds cooled off only a little (51-percent FG shooting, 44-percent 3 pt. FG) and still out-scored NYIT 46-41 in the frame. District of Columbia went on to win by its largest margin of the night, 100-67.

With the win, the Firebirds improved to 3-17 overall and 2-10 in ECC play. NYIT dropped to 14-8 overall and 8-4 in league play.

District of Columbia will seek its first road win and back-to-back wins of the season on Saturday, February 9^th when the Firebirds visit ECC foe St. Thomas Aquinas at 3 p.m.