Firebirds Open East Coast Conference Play Saturday at Bridgeport

2012-13 University of the District of Columbia Men's Basketball Game Notes

District of Columbia (1-5, 0-0 ECC) at Bridgeport (2-6, 0-1 ECC)

Saturday, December 8^th – Hubbell Gym (Bridgeport, CT)

Opening Tip-Off

The Firebirds open East Coast Conference play on Saturday, December 8^th on the road against Bridgeport. Tip-off at Hubbell Gym is at 3 p.m. Follow Live Stats and Live Video courtesy of Bridgeport.

Updating the Firebirds

District of Columbia may be 1-5 right now, but bear in mind, the Firebirds have played four Division I teams this season, which means their record in Division II is 1-1. Head coach Jeff Ruland's squad defeated USciences, 76-63 in its home opener back on November 10^th, but was defeated by Dominican, 75-62 its last time out on November 25^th. Junior transfer guards Quasim Jones (Business Management – Philadelphia, PA/Johnson CC) and Michael Terry (Criminal Justice – Philadelphia, PA/Boston University) seem to be carrying much of the scoring load for the Firebirds early on. Jones averages 13.2 points and an ECC-4^th best 4.0 assists per-game, while Terry, who led District of Columbia with 17 points at Dominican, averages 12.8 points per-game.

Scouting Bridgeport

After starting the season 2-1, the Purple Knights have lost five straight games, including an 89-71 drubbing in their ECC season opener at pre-season favorite, LIU Post on December 1^st. They are led by senior guard and 2011-12 First Team All-ECC selection, Darian David, who averages an ECC-3^rd best, 17.8 points per-game to go with a league-7^th best, 2.8 assists per-game. Junior forward Ivan Simic also averages 12.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per-contest.

The Matchup

Both teams are looking to end losing skids as the Firebirds have dropped four straight games and the Purple Knights have lost five. District of Columbia is 0-5 when playing away from home this year (0-3 in away games and 0-2 in neutral site games) while the host Bridgeport is 2-2 on its home floor this season. The Firebirds, with two first-place votes, were picked to finish 2^nd behind LIU Post in the ECC Pre-season Coaches' Poll, with Bridgeport coming in close behind at 3^rd place.

The Series

In what is becoming a fierce ECC rivalry, the Purple Knights took two of the three meetings between these two teams in the Firebirds' first season as a member of the conference. Bridgeport snuck away with a 77-75 victory back on January 14^th at Hubbell Gym, but the Firebirds dominated play in the nation's capital for an 89-66 win at home on February 18^th. Finally, the two teams met again in the ECC Tournament Semifinals hosted by Queens on March 3^rd, and the No. 3-seeded Purple Knights upset No. 2 District of Columbia, 76-65. The Firebirds will look to even the series at 2-2 and win their first game at Hubbell Gym.