Firebirds and Purple Knights Square Off in ECC Battle on Military Appreciation Night

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

Bridgeport (12-8, 8-2 ECC) at District of Columbia (2-15, 1-8 ECC)

Wednesday, January 30^th – UDC Gym (Washington, DC)

Opening Tip-Off

The Firebirds will host the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights this Wednesday night for its first-ever Military Appreciation Night event. The University of the District of Columbia will honor our nation's wounded heroes during the game. In partnership with Wounded Warrior Project and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the UDC athletic department has invited local Wounded Warriors to participate in a special halftime presentation. Any active military or veterans also receive free admission to the game with a valid military ID. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. Follow Live Stats and Live Video.

About Wounded Warrior Project

The mission of WWP is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. It is a non-profit organization with the vision to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation's history. Over 48,000 service members have been physically wounded during the current military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands more are estimated to be recovering from invisible wounds of war, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression and traumatic brain injury (TBI). For more information on WWP, please visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

Updating the Firebirds

District of Columbia has lost its last five, including two consecutive two-point losses in the Firebirds' last two outings. Junior transfer point guard Quasim Jones (Business Management – Philadelphia, PA/Johnson CC) is coming off a 21-point scoring performance at Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday – his 2^nd 20+ scoring performance this season. He averages 13.1 points per-game and is 2^nd in the ECC in assists per-game with 4.2. Meanwhile, senior transfer forward D'Angelo Johnson (Mass Media – Washington, DC/Virginia St.) registered 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field in the Firebird's 71-69 loss at RWC Saturday. Johnson averages 11.8 points per-game and is tied for 4^th in the ECC in field goal shooting percentage (52.3).

Scouting Bridgeport

The Purple Knights are the hottest team in the ECC right now, having won nine of their last 10 games, including their last five. Bridgeport is atop the league standings at 8-2. The Knights feature three scorers who average in double-figures: senior guard Darien David (16.4 ppg, 2.2 apg), 6-foot-6 junior forward Ivan Simic (11.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and senior forward Dion Waiters (11.0 ppg, 4.1 spg, 3.9 apg). David has been the catalyst over the last five games, averaging 23.6 points per-game and shooting 47-percent from the field.

The Matchup

Just a six-point game at halftime the last time these two met at Hubell Gym on December 8^th, 2012, Bridgeport went on to out-score the Firebirds, 47-29 in the second frame and cruise to a 92-68 win. Waiters led all scorers with 17 points while Simic added 16 and David pitched in 14. Jones led the Firebirds with 16 points and a game-high six assists. How well District of Columbia can defend and rebound will have a tremendous impact on this game. The Firebirds were out-rebounded 48-29 the last time they played Bridgeport, allowing the Purple Knight a 46-26 advantage in points in the paint and 18 second-chance points off of 16 offensive rebounds. Bridgeport also shot 39-of-73 (53-percent) from the field and 9-of-18 (50-percent) from three-point range.