GIBSON POWERS STATESMEN TO 69-66 VICTORY OVER CCBC CATONSVILLE

PETERSBURG, Va., (Dec. 16, 20015) – Sophomore forward Troy Gibson (Newport News, VA/Heritage) put the Richard Bland College men's basketball team on his back, scoring a game-high 18 points to lead the Statesmen to a tightly-contested 69-66 victory over CCBC Catonsville in non-conference action on Wednesday night at Statesman Hall.

Gibson's 12^th double figures scoring effort of the season, which included 15 second half points and two ferocious dunks, helped the Statesmen fend off a concerted comeback attempt by the Cardinals. Though Richard Bland led by 12 points (57-45) with 6:29 to play, CCBC Catonsville got within 67-66 with four seconds remaining. With just four ticks left in the game, Cardinals freshman guard Jaycee Wright was fouled as he launched a desperation 3-pointer from the top of the key and his team trailing 67-64. Wright missed the first of his three attempts – providing RBC with a touch of breathing room – and connected on the next two.

Forced to foul, the Cardinals put RBC freshman guard Jordan Griggs (Woodbridge, VA/Christ Chapel Academy) on the line and he calmly connected on both free throw attempts for the 69-66 Richard Bland victory.

The Statesmen close out the first semester winners of three straight and improve to 8-6. Richard Bland will be off until January 8, 2016 when the Statesmen next travel to Walters State Community College for a 7 p.m. game. CCBC Catonsville drops to 3-11 and next visits Baltimore City Community College on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

In a game that featured five ties and seven lead changes, the Statesmen got a boost from its bench, which outscored CCBC Catonsville 21-3. Turnovers proved costly for Richard Bland, however, which saw the Cardinals hold a 21-9 scoring margin in points off miscues.

CCBC Catonsville led only once in the game, 13-9, following a 3-pointer from Wright. The Statesmen went into halftime leading 27-25, riding a monster first half from freshman Jaquan Wooten (Goldsboro, NC/South Lenoir), who had six points, nine rebounds and two blocks and three straight points from Gibson, including a one-handed dunk.

With 12 minutes to play in the game, a layup by sophomore forward Devin Smith (Baltimore, MD/Randallstown) put RBC up 48-42. Back-to-back layups by Gibson and a 3-pointer from freshman guard Deandre Clark (Orange County, VA/Wakefield Private School) provided the Statesmen with a 57-45 lead, it's largest of the game.

CCBC Catonsville was able to claw its way back into the game with seven made free throws and a layup to draw within 62-59 with 1:49 to play. The teams traded free throws until Wright nearly forced overtime with his 3-point attempt.

"We're looking to get better each game and we have more work to do," said Richard Bland College head coach Chuck Moore. "We expect to play better and to perform better. I look forward to the team coming back following the break with a hunger as our conference schedule makes up the bulk of our games."

The Statesmen will play 14 of its next 16 games against Region X opponents.

Following Gibson's 18-point, seven rebound effort, the Statesmen got 11-points from Petersburg's Gevon Arrington (Petersburg, VA/Petersburg) and 10 points from Smith.

CCBC Catonsville got a game-high 27 points and 12 rebounds from freshman guard Douglas Farley, 16 of those points coming in the second half to lead the Cardinals comeback effort.