RBC HOOPS KNOCKS OFF BRYANT & STRATTON, ADVANCES TO THE NJCAA REGION X CHAMPIONSHIP

LOUISBURG, N.C. – The Richard Bland men's basketball team punched its ticket to the 2015 National Junior College Athletic Association Region X Men's Basketball Tournament Championship after defeating thirteenth-ranked and No. 3 seed Bryant & Stratton, 74-69 on Friday afternoon.

The win advances the Statesmen (27-4) to its first championship game since the program became reinstated just a season ago. Avery Ugba (Silver Springs, MD) led all scorers in the game with 19 points and eight rebounds.

Richard Bland had four more Statesmen score in double figures, including LeQuan Thomas (Green Run) with 16 points and four assists, following Melvin Gregory (Lancaster) who charted 13 points while grabbing seven rebounds, Tavon Mealy (Armstrong) with 11 points and six rebounds and Hopewell product Pedro Berrios aided in 10 points.

Bryant & Stratton, playing in its first semifinal, made a series of comeback bids, pulling closer to within two points late in the game but the Statesmen's big edge in tournament experience won out over the Bobcats.

RBC lost to Bryant & Stratton in the regular season 66-64 back on Jan. 10^th and the final home game for the Statesmen on Feb. 25^th against the Bobcats was cancelled due inclement weather. The Statesmen would seek revenge and have a chance to win an elusive championship.

Bryant & Stratton (22-7), under 2015 NJCAA Region X Coach of the Year in Clements, struggled early. The Bobcats committed 10 turnovers and were outrebounded 21-13 in the first half. RBC was able to score 14 points off of second chances and 22 points in the paint.

The Statesmen scored the game's first points on a basket by Mealy but the Bobcats would immediately answer back as both teams exchanged baskets throughout the half.

RBC's largest lead of the half came at the 12:00 mark, 18-9. The Bobcats never gave up as they cut the deficit to two, 23-21 after a layup by Rahson Robinson and eventually tied the game at 26 even with a 3-pointer also from Robinson.

However, the Statesmen would go in at the break with 37-31 lead.

As the second half got underway, the Statesmen maintained control and held the lead throughout the game until the Bobcats clawed their way back to chop the Statesmen lead to six at the 5:26 mark and two points, 71-69 with 26 seconds left in regulation.

The Statesmen never lost sight of the task at hand, as Evan Bates (Cosby) iced the game and the win with two good free-throws to secure the 74-69 win.

Richard Bland will face the No. 1 seed and arch-rival, Louisburg for the Region X Tournament Championship. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. at Louisburg College.

For more information on RBC men's basketball, please visit www.rbcathletics.com.

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