University of the District of Columbia 2010-11 Men's Basketball Schedule Announced

Washington, DC: October 5, 2010—The University of the District of Columbia, today, announced their 2010-11 men's basketball schedule. The Firebirds will tune-up for the season in an exhibition game against Division I powerhouse Villanova University on November 2, at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They will play a 26 game regular season schedule that begins November 12, with a home game against St. Augustine's College, at the UDC Sports Complex.

UDC Head Men's Basketball Coach Jeff Ruland (1-20) enters his second year at the helm of the Firebirds (12th overall). The schedule includes a game against the Elizabeth City State University Vikings on January 3, 2011, at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena in North Carolina.

The schedule also includes a contest against the Central State University Marauders, who were the seventh seed in the 2010 NCAA Midwest Division II Basketball Tournament and Pfeiffer which led NCAA Division II in scoring the last two seasons. Clarion University- returns to the UDC schedule this year bringing an 18-11 record.

Regarding last year, Coach Ruland said, "The team worked hard, every game was competitive and the team was a lot undermanned." He summarized his season's expectations for this year stating, "We're hoping to be a little bit better than last year. We hope to stay healthy….shooting for .500… anything above that would be an unbelievable accomplishment."

Team leadership for the upcoming season will come from the veteran players. "They have the experience and know what it takes to win," said Ruland. The veterans will be led by junior guard Nigel Munson (19.2ppg-5.0rpg), who transferred last season from Virginia Tech, but sustained an injury that kept him out most of the season.

Top returners include senior guard Tim Ellison, (18.9ppg-5.8rpg), sophomore guard Keith Brooks (10.7ppg-2.8rpg), sophomore forward Dyrek Jones (9.5ppg-7.5rpg) and junior guard Purvis Rollins (2.4ppg-0.8rpg).

Newcomers include freshman Ziad Ashmawy, a 6-5, 205 lb. guard/forward from Egypt; freshman Erik Johnson, a 6-7, 205 lb. forward from Detroit, Michigan; and freshman Phil Izevbehai, a 6-2, 180lb. guard from Long Island, New York.