SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Phil Stewart (The Heights School/New Carrollton, MD) scored a game-high 23 points to lead Shepherd College to an 85-81 win over UDC in men's basketball action at the Butcher Athletic Center.
Stewart hit on 6-of-11 shots, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He also grabbed nine rebounds.
Demond Tapscott (Fauquier/Warrenton, VA) added 21 points with 12 coming from three-point range. Ryan Jones (Banneker/Washington, DC) added 18 points and hauled down a game-high 15 rebounds.
The see-saw game featured 12 lead changes and six ties. The Rams took the lead for good at the 8:04 mark on a three-pointer by Stewart to go ahead, 58-55. UDC hung tough and trailed by only two points at 83-81 with five seconds left when Calvin Stith buried a three-point shot. Tapscott then drained a pair of free throws to give the Rams an 85-81 lead and Carlton Talley (H.D Woodson/Washington, DC) intercepted the Firebird inbounds pass to secure the win.
Stith scored 21 points and Antoine Martin had 17 to lead the Firebirds.
Shepherd improves to 9-11, while UDC falls to 13-8. The Rams return to action on Saturday when they travel to Davis & Elkins for a 4:00 p.m. contest.
