UDC Men’s Basketball Drops ECC Road Game at LIU Post, 88-67

BROOKVILLE, NY – The University of the District of Columbia men's basketball team suffered an 88-67 East Coast Conference loss vs. host LIU Post on Wednesday night at the Pratt Recreation Center.

The Firebirds fell to 12-11 overall and 9-6 in league play with tonight's loss while the Pioneers improved to 9-16 overall and 8-7 in league play. LIU Post, which won its 4^th straight game, evened the season series vs. UDC with tonight's victory.

Senior guard Joseph Nickerson led four Firebird starters in double-figures with 18 points and a game-high four assists. Junior guard Traevon Butler added 15 points, junior guard Anthony Matthews pitched in 13, and senior point guard Kasim Chandler had a quiet 12 points.

LIU Post also had four of its starting five in double-figures, including a game-high 22 points by Jemal Mosley, who shot 8-of-13 from the field (4-of-5 from long range), and 2-for-3 at the foul line. Forward Kyle Doucette also had 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

The Pioneers out-shot UDC 48-percent (34-of-71) to 40-percent (21-of-52) from the field, 41-percent (9-of-22) to 21-percent (5-of-24) from three-point range, and 85-percent (11-of-13) to 77-percent (20-of-26) at the foul line. The hosts also had a 38-30 rebounding advantage, five more assists (14-9) and eight fewer turnovers (18-10). They also out-scored UDC 18-5 in points off of turnovers, 23-7 in 2^nd-chance points, and 19-4 in bench points.

UDC raced out to a 5-0 lead less than a minute into the action, but a 9-2 response by the Pioneers pushed them in front, 9-7 following a jump shot by Mosley at the 17:33 mark. Back-to-back three-pointers by Butler helped the Firebirds regain a four-point lead, 13-9, but a Mosley three-pointer capped a 10-0 charge by LIU Post and gave the hosts back a 19-13 advantage.

Still trailing 21-16 with under 12 minutes left in the first half, UDC had a 6-1 burst to force a 22-all tie just past the 10-minute mark. Mosley, however, would score five straight points, and LIU Post would never trail again the rest of the night. The Pioneers went on to out-score UDC 27-15 after that 22-all deadlock at the 10-minute mark, and they would take a 49-37 lead at halftime.

LIU Post would then open the 2^nd half on an 11-3 run to extend its lead to 20, and the Pioneers never looked back. The Firebirds never got any closer than 15 the rest of the way as they ultimately lost by a final margin of 21.

Next up, UDC will host ECC foe Mercy College on Sunday, February 19^th at 4 p.m.