Nail Biter Ends in Bitter Loss for the Firebirds

WASHINGTON, DC- The University of the District of Columbia's men's basketball team fell to Frostburg State University 76-78, Friday afternoon at the E.B Henderson Sports Complex Gymnasium. The Firebirds fell to 3-9 on the season and the Bobcats improved to 5-7.

Jahmir Marable-Williams posted his second double-double of the season, scoring 14 points and 10 assists. Michael Aiken led the Firebirds with a game high 20 points going 7-11 from the field and 3-5 from behind the arc. Hartnel Haye rounded out double-figure scoring with 13 points and Kenyon Stone grabbed a team high seven rebounds.

It was a back and forth affair in the opening minutes of the game as both teams traded buckets. UDC managed to pull away leading by as much as ten points with ten Firebirds finding their way onto the scoreboard; Aiken leading the way with eight points and Micah Campbell right behind him with seven.

Coming off the break with the 40-34 lead, the Firebirds continued going tit for tat with the Bobcats, who mangaed to slowly chip away at the deficit, taking their first lead with 7:57 to go. After a few lead changes and a couple of ties, a layup by Aiken placed UDC in the lead with 1:10 to go, but it was short lived as the Bobcats immediately responded to tie the game 75-75.

Both teams then traded free throws leaving it as a tie game with 12 seconds remianing and the Bobcats in posession. The visitors managed to convert on the layup which turned out to be the game winning shot.

The visitors shot at 54.4% from the field while the Firebirds shot at 46.4%. UDC edged the Bobcats in rebounds (33-32), but it was the visitors that had the edge on second chance points (8-10). FSU had more points in the paint (44-32).

UDC (3-9, 1-2 ECC) will head into conference play next month, starting with D'Youville University at home on the 6th. The game is slated to go off at 5:30 PM.