UDC Outlasted by Alderson-Broaddus, 83-73 in Non-Region Contest

WASHINGTON, DC – The Firebirds led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but a 23-4 surge by Aldersson-Broaddus over a nine-minute period spanning both halves put the Battlers ahead to stay, as UDC was defeated, 83-73 in non-regional play at UDC Gym Wednesday night.

With the loss, the Firebirds fell to 0-7 on the year while Alderson-Broaddus improved to 5-2 overall. The Battlers out-shot UDC 58-percent to 39-percent from the field and out-rebounded the Firebirds, 41-22.

Senior guard Michael Terry (Criminal Justice – Philadelphia, PA/Boston U) led four Firebirds in double-figures scoring with 18 points on 5-of-11  shooting from the field (3-of-7 from long range). Feeding Terry was often senior point guard Quasim Jones (Mass Media Arts – Philadelphia, PA/Johnson CC), who finished with a game-high five assists to go with 13 points scored. Freshman guard Kory Cooley (Art – Silver Spring, MD/Calvin Coolidge HS) added 12 points and three assists, and junior transfer forward Geran Pope (Political Science – Washington, DC/Virginia Union) pitched in with 11 points.

Meanwhile, AB was led by point guard Malcolm Tatum, who registered 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Tatum shot 8-of-13 from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line to lead all scorers. Also, forwards Richard Lemon and Ali Bilal put up big numbers as well, helping the Battlers out-score UDC 46-24 in the paint. Lemon finished with 15 points and seven rebounds and Bilal registered 13 points and nine rebounds. The Battlers, as a team, shot a very impressive 91-percent (19-of-21) from the free-throw line.

Terry had four early points and Jones and freshman forward Andre Williams (Business Management – Maybrook, NY/Valley Central HS) each knocked down a three-pointer as UDC opened up a 14-4 advantage with a little over five minutes played. The Firebirds still led 22-12 at the 9:27 mark when AB used a 7-1 run to close within four, 23-19. Pope then converted consecutive layups to increase the lead to 27-19 with 6:27 remaining in the first half, but Alderson-Broaddus took control of the game's momentum by closing out the period on a 15-4 run. Paul Williamson buried two open three-pointers during that surge, as the Battlers took a 34-31 lead at intermission.

With momentum on its side, Alderson-Broaddus opened the second half on an 8-0 run, completing the 23-4 run over an 8:49 period that spanned both the halves and propelled the Battlers to a 42-31 lead with 17:38 left to play in regulation.

UDC trailed by as many as 16 in the second half, but late in the game used an 8-2 run to pull within six, 79-73 with just under a minute showing on the clock. The Battlers converted their final four free-throws while UDC missed its final two field goal attempts as Alderson-Broaddus went on to win by a 10-point margin.

Next up, UDC travels to Newport News, VA on Saturday for a 2 p.m. tipoff at Apprentice School.