Beleaguered Firebirds Put League-Best Dowling to Test in 87-74 Loss

WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia men's basketball team, having had their three marquee senior players out with injury for much of the season, put the top-seed in the upcoming East Coast Conference Tournament, Dowling to the test in an 87-74 loss on Wednesday night at UDC Gym.

The Firebirds led only once very early in the game, but forced five ties in the first half, and stayed within 10 points for much of the second half. Twice in the second half they pulled within five, including at the 9:31 mark when freshman Reggie Sidbury (Social Work – Landover, MD/Charles Herbert Flowers HS) knocked down a jumper to make the score 66-61.

But trailing 72-65 with 7:46 remaining, UDC allowed Dowling on a 15-4 run which put the game out of reach at 87-69 with two minutes left. The Golden Lions went on to win comfortably, 87-74.

Junior transfer forward Lenjo Kilo (Biology – Silver Spring, MD/Seton Hill) led all scorers with 29 points while adding eight rebounds and three steals. Sophomore transfer forward Clenso Brannon III (Graphic Design – Washington, DC/College of Southern Maryland) posted his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds along with three assists, and junior transfer guard Prince Ritson (Psychology – Greenbelt, MD/Bowie State) registered 16 points, a game-high five assists, and three steals.

Meanwhile, all five Golden Lions starters scored in double-figures, including guard Darien Davis who recorded 20 points, five assists and two streals. Forward Justin Alexander added 14 points and eight rebounds and guard Corwin Austin posted 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a game-high five steals.

With tonight's win, Dowling finished its regular season with an overall mark of 22-6 overall and 16-4 in ECC play. The Golden Lions had already clinched the top seed in the upcoming ECC Tournament coming into tonight's game.

UDC fell to 3-22 overall and 1-18 in conference play. The Firebirds will visit Bridgeport in the season finale on Saturday, March 1^st at 3 p.m.