WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 22, 2011) - The men's basketball team fell to 9-6 overall Saturday afternoon, as they dropped the finale of their home-and-home series with the University of the District of Columbia 109-106 in a non-conference road contest. 

The Firebirds showed early on the day's matchup would be a repeat of the two sides' 95-90 nail-biter on November 17, as they engaged the Deacons in a seesaw battle that saw four lead changes and five ties in the first half.  Trailing 33-31 with 8:50 remaining, Bloomfield surrendered a 10-0 UDC run to fall behind 43-31 with six and a half minutes remaining.  But the visitors would fight back, cutting the lead to a single points and 49-48 with just over a minute to go.  UDC would score the final four points of the frame, and take a hard-fought 53-48 lead into the intermission.

The Deacons would stay within striking distance throughout the early stages of the second half, but the Firebirds were able to open up an 80-69 lead with 11 minutes remaining, putting Bloomfield on its heels.  The lead remained in double digits before the Deacons answered with a haymaker of their own, ripping off an 11-3 run to take a one-point 96-95 lead with just under five minutes to play.  Tied at 97 with four minutes remaining, UDC tallied five points to take a 102-99 lead. 

The Deacons tried frantically to knot the score, with Ryan Rodrigues' three in the final minute cutting the deficit to a single point at 107-106.  But UDC was able to convert both free-throw opportunities after a Bloomfield foul, and the Deacons' final desperation three to send the game to overtime drew iron, sending the visitors home with a tough three-point loss.

Senior guard Gage Daye notched his third-straight scoring performance of at least 30 points, going for a game-high 31 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and six steals.  Rodrigues finished 8-15 from the floor and 5-8 from beyond the arc to tally 23 points, while point guard Ahmad Harris tallied 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists.  Robert Young and Matt Wafula provided the scoring down low, scoring 10 and 12 points respectively as Young pulled down nine rebounds.

The Deacons return to action Tuesday, January 25 with a home contest against CACC North Division rival Post University.  Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM.