Firebirds Hold Off Lions for 4th Straight Win, 79-70

WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia men's basketball team defeated East Coast Conference foe Molloy College, 79-70 at the UDC Sports Complex for its 4^th straight win.

Junior transfer forward Jayone Troutman powered the Firebirds with game-highs of 23 points and six blocked shots and a team-high nine rebounds. He shot 11-of-17 from the field, and his six blocks were the most by a Firebird since Diyaaldin Kelley's school-record nine blocks vs. Washington Adventist on January 4^th, 2012.

Other key contributors for UDC were junior transfer guard Kasim Chandler (19 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals), junior transfer guard Virgil Fleming (16 points, five assists, five steals, two blocks) and senior guard Erin Senegal (12 points, eight rebounds, two assists).

The Firebirds (5-6, 3-0) shot a blistering 48-percent (28-of-59) from the field and held Molloy to 36-percent on 30-of-84 FG shooting. The Lions (2-7, 1-2 ECC) had 29 offensive rebounds but only capitalized with 21 second-chance points. UDC was also better at getting to the free-throw line where it converted 16-of-21 (76-percent) compared to Molloy's 2-of-6 (33-percent).

The Lions, who lost their 2^nd straight, had three scorers in double-figures including guard Brandon Williams' team-high 22 points and Jaylen Morris' double-double of 12 points and game-high 13 rebounds.

UDC scored the game's first five points and raced out to a 10-4 advantage nearly three minutes in. The Lions would respond, however, with a 12-0 charge aided by two three-pointers by Charlie Marquardt, and Molloy pulled in front, 16-10 at the 15-minute mark. Back came the Firebirds on a 6-0 run to force the game's first tie after a Fleming layup three minutes later, and at the 10:18 mark, Chandler would give UDC back the lead, 19-18 with a three-pointer.

Following a free-throw by Molloy's Chucks Obunse to force a 19-all tie, Senegal knocked down a triple and Chandler sank a pair of free-throws to push the Firebirds in front, 24-19 with 7:35 to play in the opening half. Troutman would score 12 of UDC's final 14 pints of the half from that point on as the Firebirds took a 38-31 advantage into the break.

UDC would seize control of the game early in the second half as the Firebirds doubled-up the Lions, 14-7 in the first five minutes and extended their lead to 52-38 on a pair of Chandler free-throws. The UDC lead hovered between 11 and 16 until under seven minutes to play when the Lions came roaring back with a 12-3 burst and cut the deficit to three on a Brandon Williams three-pointer at the three-minute mark.

The Firebirds would buckle down though, and outscore Molloy, 8-2 down the stretch to win by a comfortable nine-point margin. Tonight's win already matches UDC's season win total of five from last season.

Next up, the Firebirds host ECC foe Queens on Saturday, December 19^th at 3 p.m.