msn.debord

Hey, yesterday i got my 96 Cherokee that has 200k+ miles and has a 90 engine, its a 5 speed 4.0 I6, well today i was driving around my block with my dad since it was my 2nd time driving a manual and it died seemingly random. we put in 2 gallons of gas just in case it was empty.. we still couldn't get it to start after several tries and my battery died. eventually we got someone who was more familiar with a 5 speed and after a few tries he got it to go.. so my question is what happened? why would it start but then die when i get off the clutch?