GRITTY STATESMEN HOLD FIRM IN 88-85 VICTORY OVER BRUNSWICK C.C.

PETERSBURG, Va., Feb. 14, 2016 — Speaking on his post game radio interview, Richard Bland College head men's basketball coach Chuck Moore succinctly described his team's dramatic 88-85 victory over Brunswick Community College, saying, "we found a way to win."

In a game that was tied five times and featured eight lead changes, six of those coming in the second half, the Statesmen overcame a 58-53 deficit with 13:24 to play to register a scintillating victory at Statesman Hall. In a possession-based, back-and-forth contest, Richard Bland trailed 69-68 with 7:14 remaining, but following two made free throws by freshman forward Eric Washington, took a 70-69 lead and never relinquished its grip on the game in a gritty performance.

A 12-4 Statesmen run in a four minute span heading into the three minute mark, was keyed by five points from sophomore forward Devin Smith, who helped ignite the season's first win over an NJCAA Division I team and put the finishing touches on a weekend that saw Richard Bland win two games over prominent programs. On Saturday, the Statesmen knocked off No. 12 nationally-ranked Potomac State 88-82.

The surging Statesmen improve to 14-13 after the non-conference victory. Brunswick drops to 13-15. Richard Bland will play its final three games of the season against Region X opponents, starting with a road rematch versus No. 7 Patrick Henry on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. Brunswick next hosts Spartanburg Methodist on Feb. 21 at 3:00 p.m.

"Following this weekend, our players know what it takes to win games," said Moore. "This was a great victory and a sign of a team that found a way to win. We shared the ball well and trusted each other."

The game-changing possession for the Statesmen likely came with 9:27 remaining in the contest and the visiting Dolphins holding a precarious 64-63 lead. RBC forced Brunswick's Josh Thompson into a turnover and as the teams fought for the loose ball, Statesmen forward Washington dove full body onto the court and fought to secure the ball, which he did. In one continuous motion he fed a streaking Gevon Arrington from the sitting position, whose layup swayed the momentum in Richard Bland's favor. 

"In a game like this one possession can make a difference, and Eric's play was huge in a game that we won by one possession," said Moore. 

The Statesmen held a 10-point lead, 26-16 at the 10:30 mark of the first half. But a veteran Brunswick team clawed its way back to within 40-38 with 51 seconds until intermission. If the one possession theory remains true, a 3-point shot with 22 seconds remaining by freshman guard Deandre Clark looms large as RBC led 43-38 at halftime.

The Statesmen led 50-46 with 15:34 remaining in the game, and with a focus on pounding the ball inside, Brunswick went on an 12-3 spurt to earn a 58-53 lead, its largest of the game, with 13:24 remaining. The Statesmen didn't flinch, though and a subsequent layup by sophomore forward Troy Gibson and a 3-pointer from fellow sophomore Reginald Moses tied the contest at 58-58. Brunswick couldn't find enough separation, however, earning a slight 68-65 lead with 8:04 remaining following two free throws from Jahriem Smith. It would be Brunswick's last lead. 

Richard Bland proceeded to go on a 7-1 run initiated by Smith's aggressive play and when he converted a layup for a 72-69 RBC lead, the Statesmen found, as Moore said after the game, "a way to win." 

For the second straight game, Smith led Richard Bland with 19 points, scoring 15 of those in the second half. Gibson, who had a yeoman's effort around the basket, tallied 18 points with 13 rebounds, his seventh double-double of the season. Moses came off the bench to score 16 points and sophomore guard Gerard Dean-McBride had 14 points with six assists.

Brunswick was led by southpaw sophomore guard Alex Brown, who finished with a game-high 31 points on 9 of 13 shooting from the field.