WEDNESDAY HOOPS LEADS STATESMEN TO PITT C.C.

PETERSBURG, Va., (Dec. 1, 2015) – The Richard Bland College men's basketball team got a taste of home cooking last Tuesday with a 102-81 victory over Vance-Granville Community College before an appreciative Statesman Hall crowd, but it's back on the road for RBC this Wednesday as the Statesmen travel to Pitt Community College for a 7 p.m. game.

Richard Bland (5-4, 2-0 Region X), has played seven of its nine games this season on the road, so travelling to Greenville, N.C. on Wednesday is nothing new for the defending NJCAA Division II national champions. The Statesmen will be facing a high-powered and undefeated Pitt team (3-0) that has scored more than 130 points in two of its three victories and currently leads the NJCAA Division II in scoring at 118.7 points per game.

RECORDS: Richard Bland enters Wednesday's game with a 5-4, 2-0 Region X record … Pitt Community College is 3-0 and will be playing its first Region X contest of the season.

LAST SEASON VS. PITT C.C: Richard Bland defeated Pitt C.C. twice last season, 104-81 on Jan. 21 in Petersburg and 80-65 on Feb. 14 at Pitt … Since bringing back basketball in the 2013-14 season after a 40 year hiatus, Richard Bland is 3-1 against Pitt, having won the last three games.

POINT PRODUCTION: The Statesmen are coming off a 102-81 start to finish victory over Vance-Granville prior to the Thanksgiving break … It was the first time RBC eclipsed the 100-point mark since defeating Wake Technical Community College 110-63 last Feb. 22 … The game marked the highest point production of the season following a 99-point effort against CCBC Dundalk on Nov. 1.

FOUR IN DOUBLE FIGURES: With the offensive output against VGCC, four Statesmen players are now averaging in double figures, led by sophomore forwards Troy Gibson (14.3 ppg) and Devin Smith (13.0 ppg), and freshman guards Deandre Clark (12.3 ppg) and Petersburg's Gevon Arrington (10.3 ppg).

SOPHOMORE LEADERSHIP: Gibson, the lone returner from last year's championship team, has scored in double figures in eight of nine games this season, including a career-best 25 points against Harcum College ... If not for a 9-point game against Essex C.C., Gibson would be a perfect 8 for 8 scoring in double digits.

OFF THE BOARDS: Freshman Jaquan Wooten leads the Statesmen in rebounding (9.3 rpg), which is 8^th best in NJCAA Division II … Wooten has corralled 68 defensive boards this season, which leads the nation. … The freshman has had double figures in rebounding in five of nine games, including 61 boards in his last six games (10.2 rpg).

REBOUNDING AS A TEAM: Against Lenoir Community College on Nov. 18, the Statesmen hauled in 61 rebounds, tying a mark of 61 set against Cape Fear Community College last January 7 … Only one other time in Moore's time as coach has the team had 60 or more rebounds in a game – 60 versus Tidewater Community College on Dec. 13, 2013.

SHOCK BLOCKERS: With an average of 5.2 blocks per game, RBC ranks 16th best in the country in NJCAA Division II.

LEADER OF THE BLOCK: Wooten leads the Statesmen in blocks with 24 (2.6 bpg), which is 4^th best in NJCAA Division II.

VIRGINIA STRONG: Ten of the players on the RBC roster hail from Virginia.

OFFENSIVE-MINDED: Pitt C.C. has started the season on an offensive tear, leading the NJCAA Division II in scoring (118.7 ppg) and field goals made per game (45), field goal attempts per game (85.7) … The Bulldogs rank fourth nationally in field goal percentage (52.5), 10^th in 3-pointers made per game (9.7) and 3-pointers attempted per game (26.7).

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS: Offense is clearly at the forefront of the Pitt C.C. game plan, as five players average in double figures, led by sophomore guard Jake Ashorn (17.5 ppg), followed by sophomore guard Romone Adderly (16.7), sophomore forward Michael Williams (16.3), sophomore guard Alfonso Josey (12.7) and sophomore forward Ashton Brown (10.3 ppg) … Freshman guard Jaquan Manning nearly makes it six in double figures, averaging 9.7 points per game …

TOUGH OFF THE BOARDS: Pitt has a tenacious attack off the offensive glass, averaging 19.7 offensive rebounds per game, second best in the nation.

WHAT'S NEXT: Following tonight's game, Richard Bland plays one final road game this semester, visiting Catawba Valley C.C. on Saturday for a 1 p.m. game … Pitt C.C. plays back-to-back games, hosting the University of Mt. Olive-JV on Thursday at 7 p.m.