Firebirds Nipped at Nyack in Overtime, 86-82

NYACK, NY – The University of the District of Columbia men's basketball team was defeated in overtime, 86-82 by host Nyack College in a non-league contest Saturday afternoon.

The Firebirds (0-4) trailed only once in regulation when Nyack's Dante Agnew made a jump shot right at the one-minute mark. They led by as many as 12 in the first half, and still by five (71-66) as the clock ticked under a minute in regulation.

But a furious late rally by the Warriors (2-2) began with a Shawn Witherspoon layup at the 56-second mark to bring Nyack within three. On the ensuing possession, Agnew came up with a steal and was immediately fouled and sent to the line where he made a pair to cut the lead to 71-70 with 49 seconds left. The next UDC possession saw senior guard Erin Senegal miss on a three-point attempt, but junior transfer guard Martin Campbell came up with a crucial offensive rebound to save possession. Ultimately, junior transfer forward Joseph Nickerson drew a foul with at the 19-second mark. Nickerson could only make 1-of-2 at the line, giving Nyack a chance to tie or win with the ball and 19 seconds remaining.

Down the floor came Nyack which opted to play for the win with a three-point shot by Imran Ritchie. His shot rimmed out; however, Ga'Briel Chandler grabbed the offensive rebound and scored the put-back at the buzzer to force overtime with the score, 72-all.

The overtime session featured five ties and five lead changes, as junior transfer guard Kasim Chandler scored the Firebirds' final points of the game on a pair of free-throws to put UDC up one, 82-81 with 31 seconds remaining. A conventional three-point play by Chandler on a made jump-shot and the foul, gave the Warriors the lead for good, 84-82 with 16 seconds showing on the clock. Witherspoon would ultimately ice the game with a pair of free-throws to make it 86-82.

Chandler led all five Firebirds starters in double-figures with 21 points on 4-of-7 FG shooting and a perfect 13-of-13 at the free-throw line. He also added three assists, three rebounds and two steals. His backcourt mate, Erin Senegal added 14 points, four rebounds and three steals.

Also, Nickerson once again packed the stat sheet for UDC with 14 points, game-highs of seven assists and five steals, six rebounds and one blocked shot. His numbers, however, were a bit counteracted by a game-high eight turnovers, including two in the final two minutes of regulation. Forwards Jayone Troutman and Geran Pope were also forces inside with 18 and 13 points, respectively and a combined seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

Nyack ultimately outlasted UDC on the strength of a 37-2 advantage in bench points, as reserves Ga'Briel Chandler (game-high 22 points, nine rebounds) and Jaron Smith (14 points, four rebounds) aided three Warriors starters in double-figures: Shawn Witherspoon (13 points, six rebounds, five assists), Dante Agnew (11 points, five steals, three assists) and Imran Ritchie (11 points, three assists, three rebounds).

Next up, the Firebirds will host their season home opener on Tuesday, November 24^th at 7 p.m.