MEN'S BASKETBALL HOSTS #11 PATRICK HENRY ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

PETERSBURG, Va., (Jan. 25, 2016) – Winter Storm Jonas forced the cancellations of two Richard Bland College men's basketball games last week, a home contest against Lenoir Community College on Saturday and an away contest against Bryant & Stratton on Sunday, but the storm has passed, and the Statesmen will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 27 when hosting No. 11 nationally-ranked Patrick Henry at 7:00 p.m.

Richard Bland (9-9, 5-3) is coming off a huge comeback victory over Pitt C.C., 83-80, last Wednesday. When hosting Patrick Henry (14-2, 7-1), the Statesmen will be playing another nationally-ranked Region X Conference team, and one that recently knocked off Louisburg, 71-62, on Jan. 21 when the Hurricanes were ranked No. 10 in NJCAA Division II. Patrick Henry has won eight of its last nine games and is in the midst of a five game winning streak. 

GAME DETAILS

Opponent: Patrick Henry C.C. (14-2, 7-1 Region X) vs. Richard Bland (9-9, 5-3, Region X)

Links:

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

Patrick Henry Men's Basketball  Home Page | Roster | Stats | Schedule

Site: Petersburg, VA

Facility:  Statesman Hall at 7:00 p.m.

Radio Coverage: FoxSports 1340 AM

LAST YEAR VS VS. PATRICK HENRY: The Statesmen lost to the Patriots 85-82 on the road last Jan. 28, but rebounded with a 74-68 victory on Feb. 19 … Since bringing back basketball after a 20-year hiatus three years ago, the Statesmen are 3-1 against Patrick Henry.

FACING NATIONALLY RANKED TEAMS: When hosting No. 11 Patrick Henry on Wednesday,the Statesmen will have faced several nationally-ranked Division II JUCO teams … Louisburg was ranked No. 10 when the teams met on Jan. 13 and Essex County College, a team RBC defeated 84-82 on Nov. 6 is currently ranked No. 14 … Bryant & Stratton, a team RBC was scheduled to play on Sunday, was among four teams receiving votes for a national ranking … On the Division I side, the Statesmen have played two ranked opponents, Northwest Florida State College and Harcum College.

HALL OF FAMER CHUCK MOORE: Richard Bland head coach Chuck Moore, coached at Patrick Henry from 2007-09, compiling a 48-16 record. In the 2007-08 season the Patriots won the VCCS State Championship ... The following year, Moore led Patrick Henry to a 16-0 record in Region X conference play, the school's inaugural campaign in the NJCAA ... That season, PHCC was ranked as high as No. 11 in the country and Moore was named Region X Coach of the Year ... For his efforts at PHCC, Moore was elected into the school's Hall of Fame.  

NO. 13 AND RISING: The internet Website www.coachstat.net recently ranked Moore 13th in its list of the nation's Top 25 JUCO coaches ... Statesmen fans undoubtedly rank Moore No. 1, as in just his second year leading the program, RBC won the 2014-15 NJCAA Division II National Championship. 

HOME SWEET HOME: The Statesmen are 6-1 at home, the lone blemish coming against No. 10 nationally-ranked Louisburg last Wednesday.

HOME CROWD SUPPORT: The Statesmen are averaging 208 fans per game, which ranks 4th in the nation behind Lansing, Sinclair and Northern Virginia. 

SUPER SUB: For the third consecutive game freshman guard Jordan Griggs came off the bench to lead the Statesmen in scoring when he tallied 20 points in 22 minutes against Pitt C.C. … Previously, Griggs led the Statesmen in scoring against Louisburg (17 points) and Cape Fear (20 points) … It was Griggs' eighth double figures scoring effort of the season … He scored a career-high 25 points in an 84-82 victory over Essex County College on Nov. 6 … Griggs has started three games this season. 

SHAKEUP AT THE TOP: For the vast portion of the season, sophomore Troy Gibson has led the team in scoring and remains at the top with a 14.1 ppg average … With Griggs' scoring prowess lately, he has risen into the second slot (11.8 ppg), followed by sophomore Gerard Dean-McBride (11.5 ppg, since starting the second semester) and sophomore Devin Smith (11.2 ppg). 

SOPHOMORE STALWART: Gibson, the lone returner from last year's National Championship team, tallied 18 points against Pitt C.C., the 15^th time scoring he's scored in double figures this season … He was a career-best 10 of 13 from the free throw line in that contest … In his consistent sophomore season, Gibson has registered four games with double figures in rebounding and has four double-doubles this season … Gibson currently has scored 355 career points and at his current pace would reach 500 in the 29th game of the season. 

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 … McBride has shined, scoring double figures in two of four games since his insertion into the lineup. 

ARRINGTON ON THE BOARDS: Former Petersburg High School standout Gevon Arrington grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds against Pitt last Wednesday … It eclipsed his previous high of 10 rebounds secured against Lenoir on Nov. 10.

STRONG REBOUNDERS: 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 PATRIOTS: Ranked No. 11 in the country, Patrick Henry is 14-2, 7-1 on the season and has won six straight games … A balanced scoring team, the Patriots are led in scoring by sophomore guard Jerel Jennings (12.9 ppg) and Henry Butler (12.0 ppg) … Seven players averaged 6 points or more for a team that averages 75.8 ppg and allows 58.1 ppg … Sophomore forward Shawn Duhon lead PHCC in rebounding (7.3 rpg) … The Patriots rank 5th in the nation in free throw attempts per game (27.1). 

WHAT'S NEXT: The Statesmen will play back-to-back games this coming weekend, visiting Guilford Tech on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 3:00 p.m., and hosting Lenoir C.C. on Sunday, Jan. 31, in a game that was rescheduled due to Winter Storm Jonas … Patrick Henry next visits Wake Tech for a 3:00 p.m. game on Feb. 3.