UDC Suffers 69-50 Loss vs. Queens

WASHINGTON, DC – Junior transfer forward Lenjo Kilo registered 19 points and seven rebounds to lead a depleted University of the District of Columbia men's basketball team of still just six available players, but the Firebirds fell short in a 69-50 loss to Queens in East Coast Conference play Saturday afternoon at UDC Gym.

The Knights, led by guards Jeremiah Mordi (15 points) and Kyhiem Chaplin (10 points) and forward Amir Tarif (10 points, game-high eight rebounds), won their second straight game to improve to 2-13 overall and 2-6 in league play. The Firebirds, meanwhile, fell to 3-11 overall and 1-7 in the ECC.

Queens out-shot UDC, 56-percent (27-of-48) to 37-percent (19-of-52) from the field and dominated, 37-23 on the boards en-route to a 40-16 points in the paint disparity. The Knights, who had seven reserves at their disposal compared to UDC's one, enjoyed a 21-0 advantage in bench points.

Consecutive layups by Kilo and sophomore forward Clenso Brannon III (Graphic Design – Washington, DC/College of Southern Maryland) helped the Firebirds snatch an early 4-0 lead, and they still led 6-4 nearing the 15-minute mark. However, Mordi's three-pointer at the 15:21 mark jump-started the Knights on a 12-2 charge, culminating in a Dejuhan Gray layup to put Queens up 16-8 with 11:16 remaining in the first half. UDC still only trailed by six (16-10) with 8:50 to play, but the Knights out-scored the Firebirds 19-10 to close out the half and take a comfortable, 35-20 lead at intermission.

The Knights did not let up in the second half, opening on a 12-4 surge which widened the gap to an afternoon high of 23, 47-24. The Firebirds put up a fight but never got any closer than 13 the rest of the way, falling by a final verdict of 69-50.

UDC will host ECC foe Bridgeport on Wednesday, January 22^nd at 7 p.m.