STATESMEN COMEBACK EFFORT FALLS JUST SHORT AGAINST CAPE FEAR

WILMINGTON, N.C. (Jan. 16, 2016) — Cape Fear Community College secured a 45-34 halftime lead and was able to withstand a concerted comeback effort by the Richard Bland College men's basketball team to register a tight 85-76 victory on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game for the Statesmen played in Wilmington, N.C.

For Richard Bland, which was playing its fifth Division I JUCO team of the season, and dipping out of Region X Conference play for the second time in its last three games, the contest was in grasp on two occasions in the second half. The Statesmen, who were never able to garner an advantage in the game, mounted a strong second half comeback that whittled down Cape Fear's 11-point halftime lead to draw within two points on two occasions. But the host Sea Devils had built enough cushion to absorb the Statesmen comeback attempt and held on to pull out a tight victory.

The loss drops Richard Bland to 8-9 on the season, while Cape Fear, which won its sixth straight game, improves to 15-5. Richard Bland will return home to face Pitt Community College on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m., which is a Faculty/Staff Appreciation Game on campus. Cape Fear hosts the Elite Skills Basketball Academy on Monday at 2:30 p.m.

Early in the second half, Richard Bland employed a 15-6 run to draw within 51-49. At that juncture, Cape Fear capitalized on a few Richard Bland turnovers to build its lead back into double figures. The Statesmen lineup of Gerard Dean-McBride, Gevon Arrington, Jordan Griggs, Troy Gibson and Nikola Lakic helped mount the Richard Bland comeback in the second half, which eventually led to the Statesmen to drawing within 78-76 with a minute remaining. The Statesmen had a chance to tie the contest in the final 60 seconds, but a missed layup gave the Sea Devils breathing room to score the game's next seven points -- all from the free throw line -- to secure the nine-point victory. 

Griggs (Woodbridge, VA/Christ Chapel Academy) led the Statesmen in scoring for the second consecutive game with 20 points, his seventh double figures scoring game of the season. Dean-McBride (Richmond, VA/John Marshall) had 16 points (his second double figures scoring game since joining the lineup three games ago) and seven assists. Gibson (Newport News, VA/Heritage), maintained his consistent level of play with 12 points and seven rebounds. Lakic (Belgrade, Serbia/Amelia Academy) had nine points and five rebounds.