Firebirds Outlast Apprentice School, 110-106

WASHINGTON, DC – Behind a school record 39 points from junior transfer guard Kasim Chandler, the University of the District of Columbia pulled out a 110-106 victory over The Apprentice School on Sunday afternoon at UDC Sports Complex.

Chandler shot 13-of-16 from the field, 4-for-4 from long range and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line to set the school record for points in a single game. Meanwhile, he also pitched in with team-highs of nine rebounds, five assists, five steals and two blocked shots to help improve the Firebirds to 2-6 on the season.

Junior transfer forward Jayone Troutman was 9-of-14 from the field and 4-for-4 at the foul line as he collected 22 points to go with nine rebounds, and senior guard Erin Senegal registered 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

The Firebirds took advantage of the game's frenetic pace and out-scored the Builders 23-12 in fast-break points and 23-21 in points off turnovers. UDC also got to the line for six more free-throw attempts (26-20) and made five more from the line than Apprentice (22-17). UDC's 110 points was the most points scored by the Firebirds since February 15^th, 2012 in a 111-68 win at Mercy, and it was the most points scored by the Firebirds at the UDC Sports Complex since a 110-100 victory over Central St. (Ohio) on January 15^th, 2011.

Both teams had 83 shot opportunities, with the Builders connecting on 39 and the Firebirds, 38. The two teams also combined for 23 three-point field goals, with Apprentice making 11-of-29 and UDC, 12-of-32. The Firebirds' offense proved more efficient with five more assists (20-15) and three fewer turnovers (14-17).

The Builders (3-4) featured five scorers in double-figures, led by forward Jay Melendez with team-highs of 29 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. Guard Cameron Perry added 19 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Apprentice knocked down four of its first five three-pointer attempts, including two by reserve William Wilcox (15 points) and led 18-14 five minutes into the contest. Chandler was a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line in the first half to finish with 19 points, and Troutman added 10 to help keep the Firebirds within striking distance despite the Builders shooting a scintillating 47-percent from the field and 39-percent (7-of-18) from behind-the-arc. Apprentice, which led by as many as 15 with 2:19 remaining in the opening period, would only lead 56-51 at halftime after a 14-4 Firebirds surge to close the half.

The two teams continued to trade baskets when play resumed for the 2^nd half, with the Firebirds out-scoring their guests 6-4 in the first three-minutes, and closing the deficit to three, 60-57 on a three-pointer by Chandler. Later, a 6-0 Firebirds run that included a Virgil Fleming three-pointer and a Clenso Brannon III three-point play, led to a 70-all tie at the 13-minute mark. The Builders responded with a  5-0 run, only to have UDC answer back once more with a 6-0 run, taking a 76-75 lead on a free-throw by Chandler to complete a three-point play at the 11:51 mark.

Apprentice asserted itself with a 9-2 run and took an 84-78 lead on a pair of Perry free-throws at the 9:25 mark, but the Firebirds came roaring back with a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to take the lead for good, 91-84. Troutman had four points during that stretch, including an emphatic dunk to tie the game at 84, and Chandler capped the run with a layup at the 6:33 mark.

The Builders made one final push as Melendez scored the final five points of an 8-2 spurt by Apprentice to pull within one, 93-92 near the five minute mark, but back-to-back three-pointers by Chandler and Senegal helped extend the Firebirds lead to 103-94 near the two-minute mark. UDC went on to make 7-of-9 in the final 2:08 of regulation to ice the victory.

Next week, UDC opens East Coast Conference play on the road at Roberts Wesleyan on Friday, December 11^th at 8 p.m.