Men's Basketball Opens Season At Home Against Bowling Green
Washington, DC—November 10--In a rare early season home game, Howard University fans will get a chance to see the men's basketball team in action as the Bison open the 2010-11 season against Bowling Green University this Friday at 7 pm in Burr Gymnasium.
It will be the first meeting between the Flacons of the Mid-American Conference and the Bison from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
"It is exciting to have our first game at home against a quality opponent like Bowling Green," says Howard first year head coach Kevin Nickelberry. "They have an outstanding coach in Louis Orr and I know that they will play hard and present a serious challenge to us."
He continued, "It will be a good chance for the Bison fans, alumni and students to be a part of this new page that we are turning here at Howard with the men's basketball program. I think that they will enjoy our style of play which features an uptempo on offense and tough defense."
Nickelberry adds that there could be an added incentive to this game. Howard University President Sidney A. Ribeau served as president at Bowling Green State University for 13 years prior to coming to the Hilltop two years ago.
"I think that there will be some extra inspiration and motivation for us to play well since President Ribeau will be there and we will be playing the institution where he once served as president. It should make for a very exciting and special night of basketball in Burr Gymnasium."
The Falcons, who finished 14-16 last season, return two of their top scorers from last year in forward Scott Thomas and guard Dee Brown. A 6-7 junior from Ashley, OH, Thomas led the team in scoring with 13.2 points and was second in rebounding with 6.3 per game.
Brown is a 6-3 junior from Detroit, MI, who finished second on the team in scoring with 10.6 per game.
The Bison, who finished 7-25 last season will be led by Calvin Thompson, Dadrian Collins, Mike Phillips and Kyle Riley. Thompson, a 6-3 junior from New Orleans, La, led Howard in scoring with 12.0 points per game. The pre-season second team All-MEAC selection was second on the team in rebounding, assists and steals.
Collins is a 6-6, 190-pound sophomore forward from Williamsburg, VA who was second on the team in scoring with 8.6 per game and shot almost 40 percent from three-point range. He was named to the All-Rookie team.
Phillips is a 6-7, 230-pound sophomore forward who averaged 7.2 points and led the team in rebounding with 5.2 per contest. He was also named to the All-Rookie team.
Riley is a 6-3, 190-pound senior guard from Indianapolis, IN, who battled injuries most of the season but still averaged 5.3 points. He is the only senior on the team and if healthy, should have an outstanding campaign.
