UDC Nips East Stroudsburg 68-66 in closing seconds of Game

Washington, DC: November 30, 2008—With 47 seconds remaining in the game, and the East Stroudsburg University Warriors leading the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds, 66-63, sophomore guard Tim Ellison (Alexandria, VA) hit a three-point shot to tie the score at 66 for the Firebirds. Then, following a Warrior foul, Firebird junior forward David Burton (Philadelphia, PA) made two free throws to win the game, 68-66, for the University of the District of Columbia at the Physical Activities Center this afternoon.
 
Ellison, coming off the bench, paced the Firebirds to the win with a game-high 23 points and three critical 3-pointers down the stretch. The Warriors led by as many as 15 points during the second half, but the Firebirds made a 9 point run with 2:46 remaining in the game to even the score. Joining Ellison in double figures for the game were senior guard Brian Adams (Washington, DC) with 14 points and 7 rebounds, and freshman forward Gani Cole, who scored 11 points and also collected 7 rebounds.

Although Stroudsburg’s shooting percentages were higher than UDC’s in most categories, the Firebird’s second half field goal shooting performance, 32 percent (10 for 31), made the difference in the game and lifted them to the win. UDC shot 38 percent (23 for 61) in field goals for the game, 22 percent (4 for 18) from beyond the arc and 75 percent (18 of 24) from the free throw line.

Only two players reached double figures for the Warriors, led by Chris Bach with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Andy Heimbach scored 10 points and Mike DeMarco added 8 points. UDC’s bench outscored East Stroudsburg’s 27 to 21, and the Firebirds capitalized on the turnovers, outscoring the Warriors 10 to 7.

With this win, the Firebirds improve their record to 2-4, while the Warriors suffered their first defeat of the season, leaving them with a 2-1 record. UDC returns to the hard court on Wednesday, December 3, at Cheyney University in Cheyney, Pennsylvania. East Stroudsburg’s next opponent will be NYACK College on Tuesday in New York.