July 4, 2006

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Winston-Salem State University Department of Athletics released the 2006-07 men's basketball schedule on Tuesday evening, July 4^th, 2006.  The 27-game schedule will see the Rams face 24 Division I opponents from 10 different Division I conferences as WSSU will play five home games and travel nearly 25,000 miles (round trip) as they play 22 road contests.

The Rams, who are entering into the second year of a five-year transition from NCAA Division II classification towards the NCAA Division I level will play 24 Division I opponents and will count in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) during the upcoming season. 

WSSU will face only three non-Division I opponents as they battle Anderson College, Columbia Union, and Ferrum College.  The remainder of the Rams' schedule will see WSSU take on established Division I opponents.

The Rams start the season in Fresno, California on November 10, 2006 as they participate in the Fresno State University basketball classic, and will conclude the 2006-07 season in Fargo, ND versus North Dakota State University on February 21, 2006. 

WSSU will travel nearly 25,000 miles round trip from Winston-Salem, NC to the 22 road contests, an average of 551.92 miles per road game.  The longest such journey from home is the aforementioned trip to Fresno, CA (2568 miles) with the shortest trip being four miles across-town to the LJVM Coliseum as the Rams face the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest University.

WSSU will face ten different Division I conferences including the Big East (twice), Western Athletic Conference (once), Southeastern Conference (once, twice depending on Fresno State Classic pairings), Southern Conference (three times), Mid-American Conference (once), Conference-USA (once), Atlantic Coast Conference (twice), Southwestern Athletic Conference (once), Colonial Athletic Association (twice), and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (six times).

The Rams, who square off against two teams that participated in the 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship (University of Alabama-Birmingham and Georgetown University) will put their streak of ten consecutive winning seasons on the line as they participate at the Division I level for the first time.

For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, or to arrange interviews with head coach Philip Stitt, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com

2006 Winston-Salem State University Men's Basketball Schedule

Date          Opponent                               Time             Location

N    10-12   at Fresno State Classic            TBA              Fresno, CA                 

N    14        Anderson College                    7:30 p.m.      Winston-Salem, NC

N    17        at Auburn                                 7:00 p.m.      Auburn, AL

N    19        at Georgia State                       2:00 p.m.      Atlanta, GA

N    21        at Coppin State                        7:30 p.m.      Baltimore, MD

N    25        at Georgia Southern                7:30 p.m.      Statesboro, GA

N    27        at Lipscomb                             7:00 p.m.      Nashville, TN

N    29        at Notre Dame                          7:30 p.m.      South Bend, IN

D    2          Georgia Southern                    7:30 p.m.      Winston-Salem, NC

D    9          at Akron                                   TBA              Akron, OH

D    16        at Georgetown                         TBA              Washington, DC

D    21        at UNC-Asheville                      TBA              Asheville, NC              

D    23        at Alabama-Birmingham            TBA              Birmingham, AL

D    29        at Towson State                       TBA              Towson, MD

J    3          at Georgia Tech                       TBA              Atlanta, GA

J    5          at Morgan State                       7:30 p.m.      Baltimore, MD

J    7          Ferrum College                         4:00 p.m.      Winston-Salem, NC     

J    18        at Norfolk State                        7:30 p.m.      Norfolk, VA

J    20        North Dakota State                   7:30 p.m.      Winston-Salem, NC

J    27        at Bethune-Cookman               7:30 p.m.      Daytona Beach, FL

J    29        at Florida A&M                         7:30 p.m.      Tallahassee, FL

F    6          at Wake Forest                        TBA              Winston-Salem, NC

F    10        Columbia Union                       7:00 p.m.      Winston-Salem, NC

F    12        at Alabama A&M                       7:30 p.m.      Normal, AL                     

F    21        at North Dakota State               7:00 p.m.         Fargo, ND

M    2          at South Carolina State            7:30 p.m.      Orangeburg, SC

                                                                www.WSSURAMS.com