STATESMEN AT HOME THIS WEEKEND: HOST GUILFORD AND WAKE TECH

PETERSBURG, Va., (Dec. 12, 2015) – While the first Richard Bland College academic semester has come to a close, the Statesmen basketball team has some unfinished work ahead. Three games remain in 2015 – all at home – starting with Saturday and Sunday contests at 3 p.m. against Guilford Technical and Wake Technical.

Richard Bland (5-6, 2-2 Region X) returns to Statesman Hall for only the third time this season on Saturday, which serves as the second annual Wounded Warrior Project Game. On Sunday, RBC hosts FCA/Church Appreciation Day. The Statesmen look to close out the first semester with momentum after two straight narrow losses. The next three games are all Region X matchups, making them important as the conference schedule heats up come the new year.

RECORDS: Richard Bland enters Saturday's game at 5-6, 2-2 … Guilford Tech is 4-7. 2-2 … Wake Tech is 2-7, 0-2.

LAST SEASON VS. GUILFORD TECH: Richard Bland won both games last season, defeating the Titans 92-75 on Dec. 13 on the road, and 97-79 on January 31 at home … Since bringing back basketball in the 2013-14 season after a 40-year hiatus, Richard Bland is 4-0 against Guilford Tech.

LAST SEASON VS. WAKE TECH: Richard Bland won both games last season, defeating the Eagles 94-65 on Nov. 18 on the road, and 110-63 on Feb. 22 at home. … Since bringing back basketball in the 2013-14 season after a 40-year hiatus, Richard Bland is 4-0 against Wake Tech.

FOUR IN DOUBLE FIGURES: The offense has been consistent all season, which has led to four Statesmen averaging in double figures, led by sophomore forwards Devin Smith (14.8 ppg) and Troy Gibson (13.6 ppg), and freshman guards Deandre Clark (10.6 ppg) and Petersburg's Gevon Arrington (10.7 ppg).

SOPHOMORE LEADERSHIP: Gibson, the lone returner from last year's championship team, has scored in double figures in ten of eleven games this season, including a career-best 25 points against Harcum College ... Against Pitt C.C., Smith notched a career-best 24 points, his third double figures scoring effort in five games since making his debut against Lenoir C.C. on Nov. 18.

OFF THE BOARDS: Freshman Jaquan Wooten leads the Statesmen in rebounding (9.5 rpg), which is 13^th best in NJCAA Division II in the latest NJCAA statistics, which are updated on a regular basis … Wooten has corralled 82 defensive boards this season, which is 4^th best in the nation. … The freshman has had double figures in rebounding in seven of eleven games, including 83 boards in his last eight games (10.1 rpg).

100 POINT MARK: In four meetings each with this weekend's opponents, the Statesmen have tallied 100 points against their Region X counterparts … In the fourth game of the 2013-14 season (Nov. 16) RBC 100 points against Guilford and tallied 110 against Wake last season at Statesman Hall.

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 5.7 blocks per game, RBC ranks 10th best in the country in NJCAA Division II.

LEADER OF THE BLOCK: Wooten leads the Statesmen in blocks with 34 (3.1 bpg), which is 3rd best in NJCAA Division II … He had a season high seven blocks against Pitt.

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

ABOUT THE TITANS: Guilford Tech is led in scoring by Carmoni Marks (15.8 ppg), rebounding by Kaleed Walton (5.9 rpg) and assists (Walton (5.4 apg) … The team averages 76.5 points a game.

ABOUT THE EAGLES: Wake Tech is led in scoring by Kenneth Collins (17.5 ppg), rebounding Dereondell Jenkins (5.5) and assists Collins (2.5 apg) … The team averages 81.7 points a game.

WHAT'S NEXT: Following Saturday and Sunday's games, the Statesmen will play a final home game this semester against CCBC Catonsville on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. … The contest is Chamber of Commerce Game, with a limited number of free tickets available from a local Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce Offices.