STATESMEN FALL TO WALTERS STATE C.C., 98-78, ON FRIDAY NIGHT

MORRISTOWN, TN (Jan. 8, 2016) — In the first-ever meeting between Division I Walters State Community College and the Richard Bland College men's basketball team, the host Senators built a 41-27 halftime lead and pulled away for a 98-78 victory in non-conference action on Friday evening.

It marked the first game of the second semester for the Statesmen, who last played on Dec. 15, registering a 69-66 victory over CCBC Catonsville. Walters State led from start to finish, the closest Richard Bland was able to come within was 11 points early in the second half. 

With the loss, the Statesmen drop to 8-7. Walters State, winners of six straight games, improves to 13-4. Richard Bland returns to Statesmen Hall for a big Region X Conference game against Louisburg College on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. The contest against the rival Hurricanes is the RBC All-Campus Blackout Game, which features a pre-game cookout, free t-shirts, halftime contests and after game party. Walters State returns to action on Sunday against Spartanburg Methodist at 4:00 p.m.

The offense did its part for the Statesmen, as five players scored in double figures, but it was 28 turnovers that enabled Walters State to build a 28-11 advantage in points scored. Richard Bland shot 54 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from behind the arc, both marks which eclipsed its opponent. The Senators held a 16-5 advantage in steals, which helped negate being out rebounded by the Statesmen 43-39. 

The Statesmen were buoyed by the second semester return of sophomore Gerard Dean-McBride (Richmond, VA/John Marshall), who led the team in scoring with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field. Sophomore captain Troy Gibson (Newport News, VA/Heritage) turned in a 14-point, 5 rebound performance on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting from the floor.  Freshman Deandre Clark (Orange County, VA/Wakefield Private School) tallied 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and fellow freshmen Gevon Arrington (Petersburg, VA/Petersburg) and Jordan Griggs (Woodbridge, VA/Christ Chapel Academy) both finished with 11 points. Arrington led RBC in rebounding with eight boards.

Walters State got a 22-point game from Kelvin Johnson and 18 points from Will Smith.