WEDNESDAY HOOPS: STATESMEN TRAVEL TO NO. 7 PATRICK HENRY

PETERSBURG, Va., (Feb. 16, 2016) – Coming off its most successful weekend of basketball this season, the Richard Bland College men's basketball team will continue a string of formidable games when the Statesmen travel to No. 7 nationally-ranked Patrick Henry for a Region X Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.

The surging Statesmen (14-13, 8-7) are coming off a pair of impressive non-conference victories over No. 12 Potomac State College and Division I Brunswick Community College last Saturday and Sunday at Statesman Hall … Patrick Henry (17-5, 10-4) lost to No. 9 Louisburg, 74-69, on Saturday.

GAME DETAILS

Opponent: Richard Bland (14-13, 8-7) vs. No. 7 Patrick Henry (17-5, 10-4)

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m.

Richard Bland Men's Basketball Home Page

Patrick Henry C.C. Men's Basketball Home Page
Site: Martinsville, VA.

LAST OUTING VS. PATRICK HENRY: Patrick Henry came into the Jan. 27 contest in Petersburg ranked No. 10 nationally and needed an extra session to fend off the Statesmen, 95-88 … Freshman guard Jordan Griggs connected on a corner 3-pointer with four seconds remaining to force overtime after the Patriots guard tandem of Thomas East and Jarel Jennings helped PHCC take a 81-78 lead with 18 seconds left … In overtime, Patrick Henry outscored Richard Bland 14-7, earning 12 of its points from the free throw line … Two free throws by Griggs tied the contest at 85-85 with 2:06 to play … The Patriots got a huge tip in by Ta'vion Petty for an 87-85 lead with 1:37 remaining and that slight margin held up as the Patriots outscored RBC 10-3 in the waning minute, getting all their points from the free throw line.

RECENT RESULTS 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 3-2 against Patrick Henry.

FACING NATIONALLY RANKED TEAMS: The Statesmen have faced four teams that are currently ranked in the NJCAA Division II national polls — Patrick Henry, Louisburg, Essex C.C. and Potomac State … RBC is 2-2 in those games, earning wins over No. 6 Essex and No. 12 Potomac … Earlier in the season, Region X Conference opponent Bryant & Stratton received national ranking votes … 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.  

CURRENT REGION X STANDINGS:

1. Louisburg College 14-1, 22-4

2. Bryant & Stratton College (VA), 12-2, 18-7

3. Catawba Valley Community College 11-3, 18-7

4. Patrick Henry Community College 10-4, 17-5

5. Richard Bland College 8-7, 14-13

6. Pitt Community College 7-7, 16-8

7. Wake Technical Community College 4-10, 7-16

8. Vance-Granville Community College 3-12, 6-18

10. Lenoir Community College, 2-13, 4-16

9. Guilford Technical Community College 1-14, 6-20

REGION X CHAMPIONSHIPS COMING TO STATESMAN HALL: Richard Bland will serve as the host of the play-in and quarterfinal Region X Conference Championship on Feb. 27 and 28 … The Feb. 27 games are at Noon, 2 pm and 4 pm … The Feb. 28 games are at 10 am, Noon, 2 pm and 4 pm … The semifinal and final contests move to Sandhills C.C. on March 4 and 5. 

COMMUNITY PRIDE & SOPHOMORE GAME: RBC will play its final regular season game on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7 pm against Bryant & Stratton … The event is a joint promotion with the City of Petersburg … Fans who bring canned food, dry food or peanut butter to the game will be admitted free … All proceeds will be donated to The Hope Center in Petersburg … Prior to the game, RBC will recognize its four sophomore players — Troy Gibson, Devin Smith, Reginald Moses and Gerard Dean-McBride. 

RBC POINT PRODUCTION: Sophomore Troy Gibson leads RBC in scoring at 14.6 ppg and has maintained his scoring average while leading the team in minutes played (28.0mpg) … Fellow sophomore forward Devin Smith averages 13.1 following a career-high 27 points against Potomac and 19 versus Brunswick … Griggs averages 11.8 a game, McBride checks in at 11.1 and Moses averages 10.3 off the bench. 

OFF THE BACKBOARD: Gibson leads the Statesmen in rebounding (7.4 reg) followed by Petersburg's Gevon Arrington (4.9) and McBride (4.3). 

PROTECTING THE BALL: The nine turnovers committed against Brunswick C.C. tied a season-low previously set against Lenoir C.C. on Jan. 31. 

HOT-SHOOTING: The Statesmen shot 54.9 percent from the field against Potomac State, the second best performance of the season following a 55.9 percent effort against CCBC Dundalk on Nov. 1

ABOUT NO. 7 PATRICK HENRY: The No. 7 Patriots are coming off a 74-69 loss to Region X Conference opponent Louisburg on Saturday … Patrick Henry is buoyed by playing their last four games of the regular season at home heading into the conference playoffs … The possession-based Patriots average 70.6 points a game and allow 67.2 points … The team shoots 47 percent from the field, opponents at 41.3 percent … Sophomore guard Jarel Jennings leads the team in scoring (12.6 ppg) … Sophomore forward Shawn Duhon follows at (10.2 ppg) … Duhon leads the team in rebounding (7.8 rpg) … The Patriots average 30.2 rebounds a game. 

WHAT'S NEXT: The Statesmen remain on the road for a Saturday clash against Wake Technical Community College at 3 p.m … On Saturday Patrick Henry hosts Bryant & Stratton at 3 pm.