Team Effort Gives PhilaU 78-58 Win over District of Columbia
Philadelphia, PA- The Philadelphia University men's basketball team (2-0) ran away with a 78-58 home-opening victory vs. the University of the District of Columbia (1-2) on Wednesday night. PhilaU junior forward Malcolm Ingram (Philadelphia, PA/ Solebury Prep) had a team-high 17 points and eight rebounds, while UDC's David Burton led all scorers with 24 points. PhilaU head coach Herb Magee was honored for his recent induction into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in a pre-game presentation.
Consistency was the key for the Rams as they shot 48.1% from the floor, holding the Firebirds to just 32.8% from field goal range for the game. PhilaU junior guard Russell Frederick (Baltimore, MD/ Calvert Hall) had 16 points and eight boards on the night.
Senior Mike Dunn (Harrisburg, PA/ Central Dauphin) helped the Rams pull away in the first half, shooting 3-7 from beyond the arc and finishing with 16 points. The Rams shot 33.3% from three-point range for the game.
PhilaU held their largest lead of the first half as Dunn stole the ball and junior forward Mike Yocum (Dresher, PA/ Episcopal Academy) hit a subsequent jumper for a 32-26 tally. Yocum finished with 11 points and four blocks.
The Rams led 34-28 at the half and would not relinquish the lead from that point on.
The Firebirds had a short-lived comeback with 17:02 remaining in the second half as Burton tied it at 35-35, but the Rams went on a 7-2 run to squash any UDC hope.
PhilaU sophomore guard Ishmawiyl McFadden (Philadelphia, PA/ Simon Gratz) put the icing on the cake with a dunk with less than a minute remaining to give the Rams their biggest lead of the night- 22 points and seal the PhilaU victory.
The Rams return to action on the road on Saturday, November 22nd as they travel to non-conference foe West Chester University for a 3 p.m. match-up.
