Claude “Chip” Neeley led Saint Augustine’s College with 19 points and 10 rebounds as the Falcons held off winless University of the District of Columbia 76-67 Thursday in a non-conference men’s basketball game at Emery Gymnasium.

Antonio Fitzgerald, the CIAA scoring leader, added 18 points and Nicholas King scored 15 for the 7-3 Falcons, who face CIAA rival North Carolina Central Saturday (Jan. 14) at Broughton’s Holliday Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m. Jumaane Sorrells scored a game-high 27 points for the 0-12 Firebirds, but the Falcons forced the UDC guard into an 8 for 23 shooting night.The victory was much closer than the last meeting between the two teams, a 99-68 Falcon win at UDC on Dec. 13, 2005. But Saint Aug’s prevailed by outrebounding the visitors 40-31 including 15-7 on the offensive glass and forcing 19 turnovers. Deon Dixon grabbed 9 rebounds to help the Falcons on the boards.

The Falcons played their first home game inside the cozy confines of Emery Gymnasium on campus after six straight road games. A capacity crowd of 459 watched a close contest most of the first half before the Falcons opened a 40-27 lead with 54 seconds left on Kameron King’s free throw. The first half ended with the Falcons leading 40-30.

The margin ranged between 6 and 14 points in the second half but the Falcons never let the lead slip away. Sorrells’ free throw pulled the Firebirds within71-65 with 2:26 remaining in the game but Fitzgerald and Derrick Green both made two free throws to push the lead to 75-65 with 36 seconds left. During the mini-run, the Falcons forced two turnovers.

After the non-conference win, the Falcons will attempt to win their first CIAA Western Division game this season on Saturday