GIBSON'S LATE LAYUP LIFTS STATESMEN TO COMEBACK WIN OVER PITT C.C.

PETERSBURG, VA., (Jan. 20, 2016) – Sophomore captain Troy Gibson hit a slicing layup in the lane with 7.6 seconds remaining to lift the Richard Bland College men's basketball team to an 83-80 comeback victory over visiting Pitt C.C. before a frenzied Statesman Hall crowd on Wednesday night in Region X Conference action.

Gibson's basket capped a frenetic comeback for the Statesmen, who trailed 80-76 with 1:35 to play against a high-scoring Pitt team that came into the game averaging 91.7 points a game, tenth best in NJCAA Division II, and got 14 of its 25 field goals off 3-pointers. With the contest on the line, Richard Bland reeled off the game's final eight points over the final 2:31 to earn a huge conference victory and snap a three-game losing streak.

The Statesmen forced two game-altering Pitt turnovers in the final 1:35 that changed the composure of the game. Down 80-76, Richard Bland was able to draw within 80-78 when Gibson followed a missed free throw by freshman Jordan Griggs with a sensational tip-in. On Pitt's next possession, a swarming RBC defense forced a Bulldogs turnover at midcourt and sophomore forward Devin Smith corralled the ball and sprinted toward the basket with the purpose of a fullback running in open field. Fouled while attacking the rim, Smith made both free throws with 47 seconds remaining to tie the game at 80 apiece.  

With the crowd in full frenzy, the Statesmen forced another big Pitt turnover with 9 seconds remaining. Head coach Chuck Moore immediately called timeout to set up an inbounds play that was initiated in front of the Statesmen bench. Sophomore guard Gerard Dean-McBride found Gibson slicing to the basket. The sophomore contorted his body through three Pitt defenders and his layup twisted around the rim and fell through. He was fouled on the play and his made free throw led to the 83-80 RBC lead with eight seconds remaining.

"Troy was our first option," said Moore. "We were able to space their defense, but we had other options if Troy wasn't open. But that's why we had a guard (McBride) take the ball out."

On Pitt's ensuing possession, with four seconds to play, a pestering Richard Bland defense unnerved the Bulldogs, forcing two consecutive timeouts. On Pitt's second attempt to inbound the ball, Smith stole the ball along the far end line, which iced the game for Richard Bland.

The victory lifts the Statesmen to 9-9, 5-3 in Region X. Pitt drops to 10-7, 2-4. Weather permitting, Richard Bland hosts Lenoir C.C. on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 3:00 p.m. The Athletics Department will be honoring its newest members into the school's Basketball Hall of Fame, former Petersburg High School standouts Ron Harris and JohnThomas, both Class of 1978 and RBC Class of 1980. Pitt next hosts Vance-Granville on Jan. 25 at 7:00 p.m.

"This team played tonight in the same fashion as it did three years ago when it was founded – with grit, toughness, defense and a fighting mentality," said Moore. "It was a huge team victory."

The Bulldogs succeeded throughout the game on their 3-point shooting, connecting on 57 percent in the first half. Only nine of their 25 field goals came from within the arc, and when Richard Bland's defense around the perimeter tightened, those same shots weren't made. Pitt's 3-point shooting percentage dropped to 38 percent in the second half and 18 Bulldog turnovers (10 in the second half) led to 23 RBC points. The offensive-minded Bulldogs trailed 49-43 at intermission, largely because the Statesmen shot 57 percent and were buoyed by 15 first half points from freshman guard Jordan Griggs, who led the team in scoring for the third straight game with 20 points.

The game was tightly-contested, featuring 13 ties and 18 lead changes. Three-pointers helped Pitt break free from a 55-55 tie with 13:36 to play, which over the next two minutes extended to 63-58 and then 79-73, Pitt's largest lead, with 3:15 remaining. From that point, the Statesmen went on a 10-1 run, highlighted by tenacious defense and opportune scoring by Smith, Griggs and Gibson.

"We talked about defending and attacking the interior of Pitt's defense," said Moore. "It helped that we played calm and collected down the stretch."

Richard Bland placed four players in double figures, including 20 from Griggs, 18 from Gibson, 11 from Smith and 10 from freshman guard Deandre Clark. Petersburg's Gevon Arrington grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds.

Pitt got 21 points from guard Jaquan Manning and 19 from fellow guard Ashton Brown, who shot 5-of-6 from behind the arc.