Firebirds Grind Out, 84-73 Victory vs. LIU Post

WASHINGTON, DC – After losing three of its last four games in league play, the University of the District of Columbia men's basketball team knocked off the top team in the East Coast Conference standings, LIU Post, 84-73 at the UDC Sports Complex Wednesday night.

Paced by the outstanding scoring efforts of junior transfer guards Martin Campbell (22 points, 8-of-13 FG) and Kasim Chandler (21 points, 15-of-18 FT, eight assists) and the superior rebounding by senior forward Geran Pope (15 rebounds, 10 offensive), the Firebirds improved to 6-3 in league play (8-9 overall) and sit in 4^th place in the ECC standings.

UDC shot slightly better than the Pioneers (39-percent to 36-percent) from the field and made one more three-point field goal (4-3) out of 13 attempts, but where the Firebirds really got an edge was their 51-38 rebounding advantage and 18 offensive boards which led to 20 second-chance points. UDC also earned more trips to the free-throw line, making 30-of-41 (73-percent) compared to the Pioneers' 22-of-29 (76-percent).

LIU Post, which still stands atop the ECC standings at 8-2 (13-5 overall), was led by guard Jared Hall's game-high 27 points, three assists and three steals. Hall shot 9-of-20 from the field and 8-of-9 at the free-throw line. Forward Greg Dotson added 14 points, four rebounds and three assists as well.

Michael Phillip started the Pioneers off on a 4-0 run to open the game with back-to-back jump-shots, but the Firebirds answered with a 14-2 run, aided by three Campbell buckets and a pair of three-pointers by senior guard Erin Senegal – the 2^nd of which put UDC up 14-6 with just over five minutes played. LIU Post responded back with an 8-1 surge, closing to 15-14  on a Devon McMillan jump shot at 11:31.

The Pioneers continued to battle until they forced a 23-all tie at the 6:44 mark on a free-throw by Barrington Alston. Senegal then knocked down another three to put the Firebirds up 26-23, only to have Aary Bibens answer at the other end with a triple 22 seconds later to force another tie. A layup by Dillon Burns at 5:26 gave the Pioneers their first lead since the opening two minutes of regulation, 28-26.

Four ties and one more lead change would occur, but the final three points of the half scored by the Firebirds was the difference as UDC led 40-37 at the break.

The Firebirds opened the 2^nd half on a 6-2 run, as Senegal's jump shot at 16:18 pushed the UDC lead to 46-39. But the Pioneers forced a 46-all tie with a 7-0 run culminating in an emphatic Jared Hall dunk at 15:15. Campbell stopped the bleeding with two consecutive baskets at 15:02 and 13:53, and junior transfer reserve guard Virgil Fleming added a jump shot as well at 13:06 to put UDC back up six, 52-46.

The Firebirds' lead hovered between four and eight points with Chandler supplying much of the offense down the stretch – converting 12-of-14 at the foul line in the 2^nd half and dishing out six of his eight assists. Following Chandler's 11^th and 12^th free-throws of the 2^nd half, UDC led 82-73 with under a minute to play. A dunk by Troutman with 21 seconds remaining gave UDC its largest lead of the night, and eventual game-winning margin of 11 points, 84-73.

Next up, the Firebirds will host ECC foe NYIT on Monday, January 25^th at 7 p.m.