SMITH, GIBSON LEAD STATESMEN PAST VANCE-GRANVILLE, 91-84

HENDERSON, N.C. — (Feb. 3, 2016) — Sophomore forwards Devin Smith and Troy Gibson combined for 42 points, to lead the Richard Bland College men's basketball team to its third straight win, defeating Vance Granville Community College 91-84 on Wednesday night in Region X Conference action.

The Statesmen got their busy three-game winning off on the right note, building a 45-35 halftime lead over the Vanguards in an uptempo game reminiscent of the Nov. 24 game in which Richard Bland won 102-81. 

With the victory, Richard Bland wins its third straight game, improving to 12-10, 8-4 in Region X Conference play. Vance-Granville drops to 5-15, 3-9. RBC returns home to Statesman Hall this Saturday for a 3 p.m. game against Catawba Valley Community, College, a team that defeated the Statesmen, 67-64, on Dec. 5. On Saturday, RBC will honor two new Hall of Famers, both 1978 Petersburg High School graduates, Ron Harris and John Thomas, who starred at RBC from 1978-80. Vance Granville next visits Mid-Atlantic Christian University on Friday, Feb. 5.

Smith scored 14 of his team-leading 22 points in the first half. Gibson came alive in the second half to finish with 20 points with 11 rebounds, his fifth doubler-double of the season. Sophomore guard Gerard Dean-McBride turned in another stellar game with 12 points, 12 assists and 5 rebounds. Petersburg native Gevon Arrington tallied 6 points with 7 rebounds.

The Statesmen led for the large portion of the game, though behind a terrific game by leading scorer Raekwon Hall (22 points), the Vanguards were able to tie the contest early in the second half. Vance-Granville got a 21 point outing from Ty'Quon Reid and 19 points from Tyrek Beverly.