Men's Basketball

  Howard University (0-3) vs US Naval Academy (0-4)
BB & T Classic, Monday, December 5, 4 p.m.
MCI Center, Washington, DC
Comcast SportsNet

THE MATCHUP:  This is a non-conference match-up between the Bison of Howard University and the Midshipmen of the Navy in the Annual BB&T Classic.  The Bison (0-3) are looking for their first win after dropping decisions to Iona (80-68), Iowa State (96-62) and to Portland State (81-53) in the Cyclone Classic in Ames, IA.

Navy (0-4) is also looking for its first win after dropping games to Georgetown (72-49), Arkansas-Little Rock (61-57), to Air Force (64-55) and to Pennsylvania (86-73).

SERIES RECORD: This is the first meeting between the two schools.

COACHES:  Howard is coached by Gil Jackson (Elizabethtown, ’69), who is in his first season after serving as an assistant coach at Penn for the past 16 years.  Navy is coached by Billy Lange (Rowan, ’94), who is in his second season and has a 9-23 career record to date there.  Lange’s overall record reads: 48-42 in four-plus seasons.

  Navy Probable Starters

32        Matt Fannin                  7.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.8 apg
Senior  Forward                       6-6       Lakewood, OH/Lakewood HS
33        Adam Teague               4.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.8 apg
Freshman         Forward           6-6       Hickory, NC/Fred T. Foard HS
3          Greg Sprink                  7.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.5 apg
Sophomore      Guard               6-4       Cardiff, CA/El Camino HS
4          Cliff Colbert                 6.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.8 apg
Freshman         Guard               6-1       Grand Prairie, TX/Grand Prairie HS
24        Kaleo Kina                   9.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3.3 apg
Freshman         Guard               6-2       El Mirage, AZ/Trevor Browne HS

  Howard Probable Starters

3          Darek Mitchell  12.0 ppg, 2.6 apg, 1.1 spg

Junior   Guard                           6-0       Ashland, VA/Patrick Henry HS

10        Louis Ford                   8.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 6.0 apg, 3.3 spg

Senior  Guard                           5-6       Cambridge, MA/Rindge & Latin

4          Will Gant                      10.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.3 spg

Junior   Guard                           6-2       Dallas, TX/DeSoto HS

12        Stanley Greene 5.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 2 blocked shots

Junior   Forward                       6-5       Camden, NJ/Lenape HS

5          Darryl Hudson              9.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.0 apg, 2 steals

Junior   Forward                       6-4       Belleville, MI/Belleville HS

  KEY RESERVES

44        Bilal Russell                  6.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg,

Senior  Forward                       6-5       Phoenix, AZ/South Mountain HS/

23        James McBryde           4.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg

Senior  Forward                       6-6       Cleveland, OH/Cleveland Hts HS/Erie CC

Ford Watch:  Ford has scored in double figures in two of the three games played…he has 319 career assists and 177 steals…a career 89 percent free throw shooter, Ford is shooting only 50 percent (3 of 6) on the season…had a high of 13 points in opener against Iona, 9 assists against Portland State and 6 steals versus Iona…holds season record for steals with 77 in 2003-04…brother of former Michigan standout Rumeal Robinson.

Darek Mitchell:  Has been the surprise performer this season, having scored in double figures in all three games to lead the team in scoring…averaged only 6 points per game last season…has made all four of his free throw attempts this season and is a career 72 percent…scored a career best 30 points against FAMU in 2004…has scored in double figures in last four games dating back to last season…

Will Gant: Second on the team in scoring at 10.0 per game…has scored in double figures in two of three games…had his best season last year, averaging almost 15 points per game…shooting 86 percent from the free throw line…second on the team in steals with 7…shooting almost 80 percent from the charity stripe for his career…posted career-best 25 points versus UMES and Morgan State last year…career-high 10 rebounds vs Coppin State last year…had 8 assists against Morgan State last year…has scored in double figures in 12 of last 15 games.

Darryl Hudson: Recorded the third double-double of his career with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Iowa State…third on the team in scoring with almost 10 points per game…leads the team in free throw attempts with 19, having converted 16 for a percentage of 84 percent on the season…leads team in defensive rebounding with 11….scored a career-high 19 points against Norfolk State last year…scored in double figures in seven of his last nine games, dating back to last season.

Stanley Greene: Is averaging almost 6 points per game…will get his first start of the season…is shooting a team-best 58 percent from the field…recorded his first double double of his career against Coppin State last year…

Bilal Russell: Averaging 6.0 points per game…started two of three games…scored a season-high 10 points in opener…missed all of last season due to injury…scored a career-best 28 points versus UMES in 2003…nephew of former Michiagn and NBA standout Cazzie Russell.

James McBryde: Has played in all three games and started one…averaging almost five points per game and three rebounds per game…played in nine games last season before being sidelined with academic problems…scored a career-high 12 points against Canisius and UMES last year…

GAME NOTES:  Howard’s opponents are shooting 54 percent from the field…the Bison are being out-rebounded by almost 15 per game…Howard is shooting almost 79 percent from the free throw line as a team…the Howard defense is surrendering almost 86 points per game…

  MEDIA NOTES:

The game is broadcast live on Comcast SportsNet…Veteran Steve Buckhantz, Clenn Consor and Jill Sorenson will bring all the exciting action.

NEXT UP: Howard hosts the University of Maryland Eastern Shore this Saturday at 6 p.m. in its MEAC home opener while Navy plays Morgan State on December 8 at 7 p.m. in Baltimore, MD.

  WHO TO CALL:

Navy Media Relations:  Stacie Michaud (410) 293-8773 (direct)

                                                                                    (410) 293-8954 (fax)

                                                                                    Michaud@usna.edu (e-mail)

                                                                                    www.navysports.com (website)

                                                                                    (202) 628-3200 (MCI press row #)

Howard Media Relations          Edward Hill, Jr.            (202) 806-7184 (direct)

                                                                                    (202) 806-9595 (fax)

                                                                                    ehill1950@aol.com (e-mail address)

                                                                                    www.howard-bison.com (website)

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Meet the Coach

Head Men's Basketball Coach
Gil Jackson