Firebirds’ Late Surge Not Enough in 89-83 Loss at Bowie State

BOWIE, MD – The University of the District of Columbia men's basketball team was defeated by cross town rival Bowie State University, 89-83 in non-regional action Monday night at the A.C. Jordan Arena.

The Firebirds (1-7) trailed by 16 with just under six minutes to play when they went on a 21-7 surge over the next five minutes to close the gap to two, 82-80 with one minute remaining. Bowie State (5-4) answered with back-to-back buckets to make it a six-point lead as the Bulldogs would score seven of the game's final 10 points to earn the six-point victory.

Freshman forward Maurice Waters posted his 3^rd double-double of the season with a season-high 20 points and 11 rebounds, and he also added two blocked shots and two steals, defensively. Senior guard Khalil Jackson also contributed a season-high scoring effort tonight of 15 points – 14 of which he scored in the 2^nd half, including nine in the final 6:15 of the game. Senior guard Traevon Butler added 12 points, and junior transfer guard Quadire Truesdale pitched in with 11 points.

BSU guard Ahmaad Wilson led four Bulldogs in double-figures with a game-high 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and 7-of-11 at the foul line. Reserve forward Keith Duffin, Jr. recorded a double-double of 19 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The first half featured five ties and seven lead changes, with UDC going up by as many as four a handful of times before surrendering the lead for good at the 6:35 mark on a three-pointer by Wilson which put the Bulldogs in front, 23-21. Wilson's trey ignited a 21-10 Bowie State run to end the half, as the hosts took a 41-31 lead into the intermission.

UDC opened the 2^nd half on a 7-0 run, closing within three on a three-pointer by freshman Paul Eromosele. The Bulldogs countered, however, with a 16-6 run capped by another Wilson three-pointer to give the hosts a 57-44 lead just past the 13-minute mark. Later, Wilson extended the BSU lead to 16 with a pair of free-throws at the 5:50 mark.

But beginning with a tip-in by Jackson, and followed by a three-pointer by Eromosele, the Firebirds clawed their way back into the game with a 21-7 surge. Jackson would score seven during the run, including the run-capping layup at the 1:03 mark to pull UDC within two, 82-80. Jackson had an opportunity to cut the deficit to one with a free-throw after that layup, but one of 18 Firebird missed free-throws on the night cost UDC that opportunity. The Firebirds' Kevin Cox did secure the offensive rebound, but Cox's jumper rimmed out with just under a minute to play.

Bowie State quickly made its way up the floor and Omari George made a layup to make it a two-possession game at the 54-second mark. UDC had two opportunities to score on the next possession courtesy of an offensive rebound by Jackson, but first missed a layup, and then missed a three-point attempt. After securing the defensive rebound, Duffin, Jr. threw down a dunk at the other end to make it a six-point game, and Bowie State went on to win by six, 89-83.

Next up, UDC will return to East Coast Conference play as they visit Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY on Friday, December 8^th at 8 p.m.