UDC Christmas Classic, Friday and Saturday, December 21-22

Washington, DC: December 18, 2007-- The University of the District of Columbia Firebirds will host a Christmas Basketball Classic Friday and Saturday, December 21-22 in the Physical Activities Center. Joining the Firebirds in the Classic will be the Columbia Union College Pioneers (MD), Saint Leo University Lions (FL) and University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Devils (PA).

 UDC has played only Columbia Union College previously, and will be facing St. Leo and USIP for the very first time. Columbia Union, a NCAA Division II Independent, is 0-7 as of this writing, but always plays UDC close, losing to the Firebirds by an average of 9 points in their last two meetings. The Pioneers are led by Tim Turner a freshman guard (Stafford, VA), who is averaging 24 points and 6 rebounds per game.

The Lions, a member of the Sunshine State Conference, are 4-2 overall and finished last year with a 13-15 record. They are led by sophomore forward Jordan Prais (Lakeland, FL), who averages 19.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Their second highest scorer is junior guard Justin Driggs (Sharpsville, IL), who is averaging 13.3 points per game.

The Devils of USIP, member of the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference, are 3-2 overall for the season as of December 8, and are led by senior forward Keith Dundas (Yardley, PA), who is averaging 12.8 points per game.

The Firebirds, a NCAA Division II Independent, is 4-2 overall as of December 15. They are led by senior forward Willie Shaw (Alexandria, VA), who is averaging 15.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. The second leading UDC scorer is senior guard Frank Petersen (Silver Springs, MD), who is averaging 13 points per game.

Columbia Union and Saint Leo tip-off the Classic on Friday, December 21, at 2 p.m. UDC plays University of the Sciences in Philadelphia(USIP) at 5 p.m. Saturday’s match-ups are UDC and Saint Leo at 2 p.m., and Columbia Union against USIP at 7 p.m.