STATESMEN SECOND HALF COMEBACK FALLS SHORT VS. BRYANT & STRATTON

NORFOLK, Va., (Feb. 7, 2016) — Down 49-30 at the half, the Richard Bland College men's basketball team make a furious run in the second half to draw within nine points with just under three minutes left, but host Bryant & Stratton had built a big enough cushion to withstand the Statesmen's comeback effort, en route to a 76-62 Region X Conference victory on Sunday afternoon at Maury High School. 

The Statesmen were in action just 24 hours after suffering a tough 75-72 defeat to Catawba Valley Community College on Saturday afternoon. Richard Bland was in catchup mode throughout, but was able to shave the Bryant & Stratton lead to 63-51 with 9:15 to play, 69-60 with 2:46 remaining and 71-60 with 1:29 to play. 

Richard Bland falls to 12-12, 8-6 in Region X Conference, while Bryant & Stratton improves to 17-2, 11-2 and appears on the cusp of breaking into the NJCAA Division II Top 20 rankings. The Statesmen will continue a tough stretch of conference games next Wednesday, Feb. 10 when visiting No. 12 nationally ranked Louisburg College for a 7 p.m. game. Bryant & Stratton next hosts Vance Granville on Saturday, Feb. 13.

Sophomore Reginald Moses (Richmond, VA/Henrico) had his best game for the Statesmen since returning from injury with 14 points. Sophomore captain Troy Gibson (Newport News, VA/Heritage) had 13 points. Freshman guard Gevon Arrington (Petersburg, VA/Petersburg) had 11 points.