RBC HOOPS TOPS LOUISBURG, 80-77 FOR REGION X CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

LOUISBURG, N.C. – Richard Bland captured its first Region X Championship title since its 20-year hiatus on Saturday afternoon with a 80-77 victory over top-ranked and arch-rival Louisburg College. The #2 seed Statesmen clinched a spot to the 2015 National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship for Division II Men's Basketball in Danville, Illinois on March 17-21, 2015.

Richard Bland (28-4) has beaten #1 Louisburg (27-4) twice out of the last three times the teams has played this season and both times on the Hurricanes home court.

Sophomore forward and Region X Player of the Year, Tavon Mealy (Armstrong) tallied 16 points and seven rebounds to lead the Statesmen. Hopewell product, Pedro Berrios added 15 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

LeQuan Thomas charted 13 points in 22 minutes of play, Melvin Gregory netted 10 points while collecting eight rebounds and freshman De'Andre Kellam who was clutch down the stretch in helping the RBC clinch the title aided nine points including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.

Austin Grimes topped the Hurricanes scoring chart with 21 points, T.J. Wilson and Tariq Felder added 15 and 11, respectively.

After a first half that had 23 personal fouls called, the second half became even more physical with an automatic berth to the NJCAA Division II Tournament Championship on the line. The lead changed five times over the final fifteen minutes and forty seconds of the game.

With 5:04 left in regulation, Mealy gave Richard Bland the lead – they would not relinquish – as he would score three more points to give the Statesmen a 78-74 cushion with 3:45 remaining in the game.

LC's Felder would be sent to the free-throw line and sink a pair of free-throws to cut the Statesmen lead to three, 78-75 but Berrios answers back with a layup sending him to the line for a 3-point play. He would not convert which led to Wilson's good jumper at the 1:58 mark to give the Hurricanes a chance to tie or steal the lead.

The Hurricanes had two chances to tie ball game, once with 51 seconds left when Raekwon Harney shot a 3-pointer that hit the back of the iron for Ugba's fifth rebound.

The Statesmen would call a timeout only to give the ball right back to the Hurricanes after a shot clock violation with 14 seconds left in the game.

LC's Camden Scott had another chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer but that also hit the back of the iron as Gregory got the defensive rebound and time ran off the clock for the Statesmen first Region X Championship title.

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

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