Conclusion: Firebirds Fall to #1 Seeded STAC in Semi-Finals

SPARK HILL, N.Y.- The University of the District of Columbia's men's basketball team saw their season come to a close in the ECC Semi-final against top seeded St Thomas Aquinas College, Saturday afternoon. The Firebirds conclude the 2022-23 season with a 13-14 record, while the Spartans improved to 25-4 and will advance to the finals.

Five Firebirds scored in the double-figures with Hartnel Haye recording a game-high 21 points. Haye went 9-12 from the field while also grabbing a game-high seven rebounds. Jahmir Marable-Williams added 14 points and Micah Campbell, Michael Aiken and Juanye Colon added 11 points each.

STAC opened up the game going on a 12-3 run. The Firebirds refused to go away as they went on a run of their own that would make it a two point game with six minutes remaining. The Spartans responded and opened up a 12 point deficit going into half-time.

UDC gave a valiant effort in the second half scoring 46 points, but the 12 point half-time deficit, coupled with another great offensive half by STAC (52 points), saw their hopes of a Championship Finals appearance, dissolve. 

The Firebirds shot at 45% from the field but the Spartans shot at 50%. STAC also had the edge on rebounds (38-31) and points in the paint 38-24 leading in all statiscistical categories. 

UDC ends the season with a 13-14 record, a huge improvement from last year's 9-20 record. They hosted a Championship game for the first time since the 2015-16 season, and defeated the College of Staten Island to win the programs first ever Championship game. They appeared in the Semi-finals for the first time since joining the conference back in the 2011-12 season. Marable-Williams became the first First-Team pick since Joseph Nickerson back in the 2016-17 season and swept the season series against Roberts Wesleyan for the first time since the 2016-17 season. They defeated Bowie State for the first ever on their home court, earlier in the season and competed in the inaugural HBCU Gameday classic.  

"I'm very proud how our team stayed together and fought through the season," said Head Coach Riley. "We lost some close games early in the year that were tough. The team continued to work hard to get better and was rewarded with a winning streak at the end of our season. The post season was a good experience for those players returning next season."