Firebirds Suffer Lopsided Loss in Rematch at Alderson Broaddus

PHILIPPI, WV – The University of the District of Columbia men's basketball team suffered a lopsided, 95-65 loss to non-region foe Alderson Broaddus in the second meeting of the season between these two teams at Rex Pyles Arena Wednesday night.

The Firebirds, who two weeks ago beat the Battlers in Washington, DC, 78-77, fell to 1-4 with the loss tonight. Junior forward Lenjo Kilo (Biology – Silver Spring, MD/Seton Hill) led three UDC scorers in double-figures with 16 points, and sophomore guard/forward Clenso Brannon (Graphic Design – Washington, DC/College of Southern Maryland) registered 13 points and a team-high six rebounds. Senior guard Quasim Jones (Business Management – Philadelphia, PA/Johnson CC) also pitched in with 11 points.

UDC was without its senior leader and second leading scorer, Michael Terry (Criminal Justice – Philadelphia, PA/Boston U) and one of its top rebounders in senior forward Ziad Ashmawy (Economics – Cairo, Egypt – American City College). Both played pivotal roles in the win over Alderson Broaddus back on November 20^th.

Alderson Broaddus featured four scorers in double-figures, including a game-high 21 points by guard Malcolm Tatum, who shot 8-of-13 from the field and also pulled down seven rebounds. The Battler big men had a field day against the depleted and undersized Firebirds as Adam Kline dominated in the paint with 19 points and 18 rebounds, Richard Lemon registered 12 points and nine boards, and guard Ali Bilal added 12 points and six rebounds.

The Battlers took advantage of their size (they feature seven players 6'4" or taller), out-rebounding UDC 51-17 and out-scoring the Firebirds 30-2 in second-chance points and 42-28 in the paint. The Firebirds shot an impressive 27-of-54 (50-percent) from the field, but AB shot 53-percent (37-of-70) and took 16 more shots.

The Firebirds seemed to be in control early on, jumping out to early leads of 10-6, 12-8 and 16-13, but with the score tied at 18-all, Ali Bilal knocked down the second of his three-pointers at the 11:15 mark to put the Battlers ahead to stay. Kilo, who helped keep the Firebirds in the game for much of the first half, converted a layup with just under eight minutes to play which pulled UDC within two, 28-26. But Alderson Broaddus would close out the first half on a 22-6 run and take a commanding, 50-32 lead into halftime.

With momentum on their side, the Battlers started the second half on a 21-7 run which resulted in a 71-39 advantage at the 12:46 mark. All totaled, AB outscored UDC 43-13 in a period of about 15 minutes which spanned both the halves. The Battlers went on to win by a final margin of 30.

UDC will look to bounce back as it hosts East Coast Conference foe LIU Post on Saturday, December 7^th at 3 p.m.