BASKETBALL HEADS TO ESSEX C.C. FOR WEEKEND TOURNAMENT

PETERSBURG, Va., (Nov. 5, 2015) – The Richard Bland College men's basketball team will take its undefeated (2-0) record on the road this Friday and Saturday, as the Statesmen compete at the Essex County College Wolverine Classic.

The Statesmen will face host Essex on Friday evening at 8 pm. On Saturday, the semifinal and final games will be played at 3 pm and 5 pm against Harcum College or Globe Institute of Technology. 

WHO: Richard Bland vs. Essex County College, opening round Essex County College Wolverine Classic

WHERE: Newark, NJ

WHEN: November 6 at 8 pm. 

SEMIS & FINALS: November 7 at either 3 pm or 5 pm against Harcum College or Globe Institute of Technology. 

RECORDS: Richard Bland is 2-0 … Friday marks the season opener for Essex County College … Harcum opened its season with a 109-88 road victory over Hagerstown … GIT fell to Harford Community College 81-79 in its season opener. 

ABOUT ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE: The Wolverines have long had a successful program … Last season, Essex compiled a 24-6 record and competed in the NJCAA Division II National Championships, losing their opening round game to Garrett College, 82-75 … In their consolation game, Essex fell to MCC Penn-Valley, 85-65.

WHAT'S NEXT: The Statesmen will compete in their second high-caliber tournament on Nov. 13 and Nov. 14 competing in Florida at the North West Florida State Tournament … RBC will face host North West Florida on Friday, marking what is believed to be the first time a defending NJCAA Division II champion (Richard Bland) faces a defending NJCAA Division I champion (North West Florida) … In the second round, RBC faces Chipola, a program coach Chuck Moore called "the Kentucky of junior college basketball."

2-0 START: The Statesmen are off to a 2-0 start for the third straight year under Moore, who was hired to resurrect the program after a 20-year hiatus prior 2013-14 season. 

12 STRAIGHT: Over the past two seasons, the Statesmen have won 12 straight games. 

60 PLUS AND COUNTING: Just two games into his third season at Richard Bland, Moore has compiled a 61-9 (.871) record … He earned win No. 60 in the season opener against Frederick Community College (81-59) and win No. 61 against CCBC Dundalk last Sunday (99-94). 

HIGH SCORING: The Statesmen are averaging 90 points a game, 16^th best in the country in NJCAA Division II. 

OFFENSIVE MINDED: With an average of 34 field goal attempts per game, Richard Bland ranks 6^th in the nation.

FROM THE LINE: With an average of 22.5 free throws made per game, the Statesmen rank 8^th in the country.

FOUR IN DOUBLE FIGURES: The fast offensive start for Richard Bland has four players averaging in double figures … Freshman Deandre Clark (Orange County, VA/Wakefield Private School) leads the team at 18 ppg., followed by sophomore Troy Gibson (Newport News, VA/Heritage) at 17 ppp., freshman Myles Markland (Petersburg, VA/Matoaca) at 14.5 ppg., and freshman Harrison Mitchell (Hampton, VA/Phoebus) at 11 ppg.

OFF THE BOARDS: Freshman Jaquan Wooten (Goldsboro, NC/Lenoir) leads the Statesmen in rebounding (9.0 rpg), followed by Mitchell (8.0 rpg) and Gibson (6.5 rpg).