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Huskies Down District of Columbia in Men's Basketball
BLOOMSBURG—Freshman John Owens (Philadelphia/Abington Friends) scored a team-high 18 points to lead Bloomsburg University to a 78-75 win over the District of Columbia Wednesday night in college basketball action.
The Huskies jumped out to an early 5-2 lead in the game. The Firebirds, though, came roaring back with a 10-0, highlighted by eight points from Phillip Wiafe, to take a 12-5 lead with 16:37 left in the first half. The visitors extended the margin to 10 points, 26-16, on a three-pointer by Devin Hawes. However, five points from Jason Benson (Pittsburgh/Schenley) and two each from Owens and Brian Holsey (Philadelphia/Masterman) cut the margin back to one, 26-25, with 10:05 left in the half.
But UDC again went on a 10-0 and took a 12 point lead, its biggest of the night, with 5:37 left in the first half. Another rally by the Huskies saw Owens hit a couple of free throws and drained a three-pointer to get Bloomsburg back to within three at 43-40. The Firebirds' Rasheim Wright, the second leading scoring in Division II, though, scored five unanswered points to close the half and leave UDC with a 48-40 lead.
Early in the second half Bloomsburg fell behind by 10 points again, 52-42, but slowly trimmed the margin. Jumpers by Seth Scott (Waynesboro/Waynesboro) and Owens along with a three from Benson cut the deficit to two, 58-56, with 12:19 to play. UDC was able to hang on to the lead for nearly eight minutes before a three-pointer from Ryan Nenstiel (Nuremburg/Weatherly) tied the score at 65-65 with 4:54 left in the game. Bloomsburg then took its first lead since 5-2 when Ryan Hewitt (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) hit a short baseline jumper giving the Huskies a 67-65 lead.
Later with the Huskies leading 75-69 with 2:08 to play, the Firebirds staged a rally of their own with Wright hitting a couple of free throws to make it 75-71. After Hewitt hit one of two free throws, Waife scored on a layup to make it 76-73, Bloomsburg, with 1:42 left. After a missed free throw by Waife, who got his own rebound, Wright scored inside to make it 76-75 with 1:23 to play. After a near turnover gave the Huskies the ball with 52 seconds left, Owens missed a jumper with 34 seconds left giving UDC the chance to win the game.
After working the clock down under 10 seconds, Wright drove the lane and threw up a hard shot off the glass, While going for the rebound, Wright fouled Nenstiel who converted both free throws with four seconds left.
UDC had one last shot to tie the game, but Dion Thompson's three-point attempt did not the rim and gave the Huskies a big win.
Bloomsburg, now 5-7, got 18 points and three assists from Owens, while Nenstiel and Benson each added 16 points. Seth Scott had 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists to round out four players in double figures.
UDC, now 9-4, got 30 from Rasheim Wright and 21 from Waife.
Bloomsburg will host Edinboro Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Nelson Field House.
