District of Columbia Surpasses Century Mark in 106-86 Win on Senior Day

WASHINGTON, DC – Junior guard Michael Terry erupted for a season-high 38 points to lead the Firebirds to a 106-86 victory over East Coast Conference foe Mercy College in their season finale on Saturday afternoon at UDC Gym.

District of Columbia, who won its final four games at home this season, sent its four graduating seniors off in style. Brandon Ennis (Mass Media – Ontario, Canada/Southern Connecticut State) pitched in 10 points and six rebounds, Ralph Watts (Sociology – Peekskill, NY/UAlbany) added 13 points, D'Angelo Johnson (Mass Media – Washington, DC/Virginia St.) scored 15 points, and fourth-year senior Keith Brooks (Journalism – Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancy HS) netted eight points. All four were honored in a ceremony before the game.

Also of note, junior transfer point guard Quasim Jones (Business Management – Philadelphia, PA/Johnson CC) registered a double-double of 10 points and 10 assists (his 2^nd game of 10 assists or more), and Terry (Criminal Justice – Philadelphia, PA/Boston U) pulled down 10 rebounds to go with his game-high 38 points. Freshman Omar Abbas (Electrical Engineering – Alexandria, Egypt/Egyptian American HS) also brought the crowd to a roar as he scored seven points in five minutes of action off the bench.

The Firebirds led wire-to-wire in this game as they avenged an earlier, 76-71 road loss to Mercy back on February 2^nd. District of Columbia finishes the season with an overall record of 6-20 and a 5-13 mark in ECC play.

Mercy (4-22, 3-15 ECC) was led by three scorers in double-figures. Joseph Pope scored a team-high 25 points to go with 10 rebounds and five assists while Kirk Bailey also registered a double-double of 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Reserve guard Tracey Lewis also added 18 points and four assists.

Terry scored the Firebirds' first eight points of the afternoon and Watts added a three-pointer in helping District of Columbia grab an 11-2 lead in the first four minutes of action. Later, Pope scored five consecutive points to bring the Mavericks within six (14-8), but three consecutive three-pointers (two in a row by Johnson) for the Firebirds lifted the hosts to a commanding 23-8 lead near the 11-minute mark, and District of Columbia would never look back. Terry led all scorers at the break with 18 and the Firebirds shot a blistering 53-percent (8-of-15) from three-point range as they took a 50-29 lead into intermission.

District of Columbia never let its foot off the gas as the Firebirds opened the second half on an 8-0 run that included back-to-back emphatic dunks by Terry and Johnson, bringing an enthusiastic senior day crowd at UDC Gym to its feet. The Firebird lead ballooned at 32 near the 11-minute mark before a 14-0 run by the Mavericks brought Mercy back within 18. The Mavericks pulled within 16 after a three-pointer by Pope at the 4:31 mark, but District of Columbia went on to win by a comfortable 20-point margin.

The Mavericks actually had a slight shooting edge on the day (51.5%-51.3%) after shooting a scorching hot 61-percent from the field in the closing half. Mercy even out-scored the Firebirds 57-56 in the second half, but it was not enough to make up the 21-point halftime differential because District of Columbia made more than triple as many three-pointers (13-4). The Firebirds were out-rebounded 46-34, but were much more efficient offensively with 19 assists and just eight turnovers compared to Mercy's 17 assists and 19 turnovers.