Cheyney State Wolves Defeat UDC Firebirds, 62-56, in Pennsylvania

Cheyney, PA: December 3, 2008—Junior guard Tyrone Smith paced the Cheyney State University Wolves to a, 62-56, win over the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds, tonight, at Cope Hall. Smith, one of two Cheyney players in double figures, scored a game-high 25 points, while snatching 7 rebounds from the board to give the Wolves the home win. Senior forward Dominique Curry added an 11-point, 11 rebound double-double to the winning effort for the Wolves.

The first half saw the score tied twice and the lead change 4 times as the Firebirds led in percentage of field goal completions, and in points most of the half, but trail at the half time break, 28-24. UDC made 35 percent ( 8 for 23) of their first half field goals, compared to Cheyney’s 27 percent (10 for 37). Cheney knotted the score at 23 with 3:46 remaining in the half, then pulled ahead to take the lead at the 1:39 mark.

The Firebirds wilted in the second half, failing to even the score and trailed the entire period, at one point by as many as 17 points before rallying, and going on a 19-3 run, and falling to the Wolves by just 6 points. Both teams shot 35 percent for the game with UDC making (17 of 48) field goals, and Cheyney making (22 of 63). The Wolves’ bench outscored the Firebird’s bench 9 to 7, to help clinch the win.

Senior guard Kechan Myers (Philadelphia, PA) led the Firebird scoring with 20 points, while pulling down 6 rebounds. Junior forward David Burton (Philadelphia,PA) gave a 19 point, 16 rebound double-double performance as the only other Firebird in double figures. UDC dropped to 2-5 for the season, while Cheyney remains undefeated with a 3-0 record.

UDC returns to the hard court on Saturday, at home, at 2 p.m., against the Shaw University Bears.