Posted: Jan 12, 2016

STATESMEN HOST NO. 10 LOUISBURG IN BLACKOUT GAME WEDNESDAY

PETERSBURG, Va., (Jan. 11, 2015) – Wednesday evening's second annual RBC All-Campus Blackout Game against Region X Conference rival Louisburg College has been an eagerly anticipated game since the 2015-16 schedule was announced in August This this year's version offers an added twist: The visiting Hurricanes enter the 7 p.m. game as the No. 10 nationally ranked team in NJCAA Division II.

The game has all the trappings of a good one: The defending national champions against a Louisburg team that has won eight straight games and is unblemished (4-0) in conference play. Last season, the rivals split their two games, but the Hurricanes defeated the Statesmen in the inaugural Blackout Game on Feb. 11, 80-74. But the intrigue of the game extends further: Last season, the Statesmen earned the Region X Conference Tournament Championship and automatic berth into NJCAA Division II National Championship berth by defeating Louisburg on the road, 80-77.

GAME DETAILS

Opponent: Louisburg College (12-3, 4-0) at Richard Bland (8-7, 4-2).
Date: Jan. 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Site: Petersburg, Va.
Facility: Statesman Hall
Live Stats: Live Stats Link
Radio: Fox Sports Radio 1340 AM

Links:

Richard Bland Men's Basketball | Home Page | Roster | Stats | Schedule

Louisburg College Men's Basketball | Home Page | Roster | Stats | Schedule

LAST SEASON VS. LOUISBURG: The first meeting, played on Jan. 14 in Louisburg saw Richard Bland win 87-81 behind a 22-point performance from sophomore Reginald Moses, who came off the bench to shoot 8-for-13 from the field in helping the Statesmen earn the six-point win ... On Feb. 11 in Petersburg, Louisburg snapped a nine-game RBC winning streak, getting three double figures scoring efforts from its bench, to register a 80-74 victory.

NATIONAL RANKING: Louisburg enters Wednesday's game as the No. 10 nationally-ranked team in Division II according to the latest NJCAA poll, but isn't the only nationally-ranked team on the RBC schedule … Patrick Henry is ranked No. 15 and Bryant & Stratton was among five teams receiving votes for a national ranking.

HOME COOKING: The Statesmen are a perfect 5-0 at home this season, shooting better (49 percent) and scoring more points (84.0 ppg) than in both away and neutral site games.

CONFERENCE PLAY: The Statesmen average 83.5 points in conference play, compared to 79.9 in non-conference games.

SECOND SEMESTER ADDITIONS: The Statesmen welcomed two sophomore additions, both Richmond natives, to the lineup for the second half of the season. The first is 6-6 guard Reginald Moses, who averaged 13 points in 19 minutes as a member of last year's National Championship team … The second is 6-0 guard Gerard Dean-McBride who played at Virginia Union two seasons ago … In his debut game against Walters State, Dean-McBride led RBC in scoring with 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field … His performance earned him RBC Student-Athlete of the Week honors.

SOPHOMORE LEADERSHIP: Sophomore captain Troy Gibson leads the team in scoring (14.0 ppg), rebounding (6.7 rpg) and minutes played (27.3 mpg) … He has played and started in all 15 games, scoring in double figures in 12 contests.

FRONTCOURT SUPPORT: Gibson has been aided by the play of fellow sophomore Devin Smith in the frontcourt … Smith ranks second on the team in scoring (13.1 ppg) and is averaging 23.4 minutes a game since joining the lineup five games into the season … Smith notched a career-best 24 points against Pitt C.C. on Dec. 2.

FOUR IN DOUBLE FIGURES: Sophomore captain Troy Gibson leads four players scoring in double figures (14.0 ppg) … He is joined by fellow sophomore Devin Smith (12.2 ppg) and freshmen guards Gevon Arrington (10.7 ppg) and Deandre Clark (10.6 ppg).

SOLID SHOOTING: In 10 of the 15 games this season, Richard Bland has shot 45 percent or better from the field … That mark includes a season-best 55.9 percent against CCBC Dundalk on Nov. 1 and 53.8 percent against Walters State on Saturday.

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.

ABOUT THE HURRICANES: Winners of eight straight games, Louisburg enters Wednesday's game riding an eight-game winning streak and boasts a 6-1 road record … The Hurricanes are led in scoring by CJ Hill (17.2 ppg) and in rebounding by Jamarcus Hairston (8.9 rpg) … Louisburg averages 94.4 points a game and shoots 47.6 percent from the field.

WHAT'S NEXT: The Statesmen continue conference play with a Saturday afternoon road contest at Cape Fear C.C. at 3:00 p.m. … Louisburg travels to Bryant and Stratton for a 3:00 p.m. game on Saturday.