ARRINGTON'S DOUBLE-DOUBLE KEYS STATESMEN TO 75-60 VICTORY OVER LENOIR

KINGSTON, N.C. (Nov. 18, 2015) -- Petersburg native Gevon Arrington earned an impressive double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Richard Bland College men's basketball team to a 75-60 Region X Conference victory over Lenoir Community College on Wednesday evening.

Playing their sixth straight road contest didn't deter the Statesmen, who turned a slight 16-11 first half deficit into a 30-24 halftime lead in improving to 4-3 on the season. While it was Arrington (Petersburg, VA/Petersburg) who filled the stat sheet Wednesday night, teammate Kai Brown (Williamsburg, VA/Walsingham Academy) keyed the offensive surge. With Richard Bland trailing 16-11, Brown was inserted into the game and immediately canned two big 3-pointers to ignite a Statesmen run that led to the six point halftime lead.

Richard Bland, which defeated Lenoir for the third straight season, improves to 4-3, while Lenoir drops to 0-2. The Statesmen will play another road contest on Saturday, Nov. 21 when facing Caldwell C.C. in the Region X Blastoff at Sandhills, N.C. at 6:00 p.m. Lenoir faces Caldwell on Friday in the same event that serves as a three-day showcase of all the Region X teams.

With Arrington scoring 10 points in each half, Richard Bland built a 46-39 lead at the midway point of the second half. The Statesmen then went on an 8-0 run to build a 54-39 lead and a sizeable cushion. The teams traded baskets from that point on, with the Statesmen easing into the 15-point victory.

Arrington's efforts were aided by a strong second half from freshman guard Deandre Clark (Orange County, VA/Wakefield Private School), who scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half. Sophomore guard Devin Smith (Baltimore, MD/Randallstown), who was making his 2015-16 season debut, tallied nine second half points on 7-of-9 from the free throw line.

Local high school standout Jaquan Wooten (Goldsboro, NC/South Lenoir), had a productive homecoming game before a legion of family and friends. The freshman center had 4 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks for the Statesmen.