SMITH'S CAREER NIGHT PROPELS STATESMEN TO UPSET OVER NO. 12 POTOMAC
Posted: Feb 13, 2016

SMITH'S CAREER NIGHT PROPELS STATESMEN TO UPSET OVER NO. 12 POTOMAC

Game Leaders
Potomac State College of WVU
Pts: Tyrell Edmiston - 21
Reb: George Chase - 9
Ast: Travis Brown - 3
Richard Bland College
Pts: Devin Smith - 27
Reb: Troy Gibson - 8
Ast: Gerard Dean-McBride - 7
Team Stats
Full stats

PETERSBURG, VA., (Feb. 13, 2016) – Sophomore forward Devin Smith poured in a career-high 27 points and the Richard Bland College men's basketball team played perhaps its finest all-around game of the season in upsetting No. 12 nationally-ranked Potomac (WV) State College on Saturday afternoon at Statesman Hall.

The Statesmen snapped a three-game losing streak with its signature win of the season against a Potomac State team that came into Saturday's contest sporting 19-2 record. The Catamounts had won their last coupled with an aggressive offensive game that put the Statesmen into early second half foul trouble.
 

Behind Smith's 16 half points and a season-high 20 points from 3-point sharpshooter Reginald Moses (6 of 11 from behind the arc), the Statesmen went on a furious run to start the second half to build a 52-42 lead after scoring the second sessions first seven points and going on a 14-5 run. The Catamounts were never able to contain Smith's slashing drives to the hoop or Moses' often uncontested field goals as the Statesmen swift passing led to assists on 22 of 28 baskets.

With the victory, Richard Bland improves to 13-13 following the non-conference victory. Potomac State drops to 19-3. It will be a quick turnaround for the Statesmen, who return to action on Sunday at 2 p.m. for another non-conference game against Division I Brunswick Community College on American Heart Association Day. Potomac returns to action on Sunday visiting Thomas Nelson Community College for a 2:00 p.m. game.
 

"We really worked together today – it was a great team win," said Richard Bland College head coach Chuck Moore. "We moved well on defense and did a great job of keeping guys out of the lane by guarding initial movements. It was a very satisfying team win."

The victory over No. 12 Potomac marks the second time this season Richard Bland has knocked off a nationally-ranked team. Current No. 6 Essex County College fell to Richard Bland, 84-82, in the season's third game on Nov. 6.
 

Early second half fouls put the Catamounts in the bonus for the final 14 minutes of the game, but Potomac State was never able to full capitalize on the opportunity, shooting 28 of 37 from the line.

The Statesmen shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and finished at 54 percent for the game, connecting on 12 of 25 shots from behind the arc.  Richard Bland got 15 points from its sophomore captain Troy Gibson and a team-best eight rebounds.
 
Trailing by four to six points the majority of the second half, Potomac State was forced to foul RBC sophomore guard Gerard Dean-McBride, who had his best free throw shooting game of the season in converting 9 of 11 from the charity stripe.
 
Potomac State was led by forward Tyrell Edmiston with 21 points and eight rebounds.