WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Roberts Wesleyan men's basketball team was never able to close the gap against the University of the District of Columbia on Friday night as the Firebirds went on to upset the Redhawks, 76-61.
 
The loss drops Roberts into fifth place in the East Coast Conference standings behind Bridgeport. The No. 2 and No. 3 seeds earn a home game for the first round of the ECC Championships.
 
Turnovers by the Redhawks were the difference in the game. Roberts gave the ball away on 19 different occasions leading to 25 points for UDC. The Firebirds turned the ball over just nine times in the game.
 
Down double digits in the first half a late three pointer by senior guard Michael Bush helped get the Redhawks within nine points of the lead by halftime. But in the second half UDC had an answer for every Redhawks bucket and wouldn't allow Roberts to string a run together to close the gap.
 
Senior center Jean Toussaint led the Redhawks with 15 points and came away with nine rebounds. Bush added 11 points and Reggie Clark had 11 points as well.
 
Roberts Wesleyan (13-10, 9-6 ECC) will look to upset St. Thomas Aquinas on Sunday for the second time this season. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.