TUESDAY HOOPS: STATESMEN HONOR SOPHOMORES, HOLD CANNED FOOD DRIVE

PETERSBURG, Va., (Feb. 22, 2016) – The Richard Bland College men's basketball team will play its final regular season home game on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m., hosting Bryant & Stratton College at Statesman Hall.

Tuesday's game will be both a celebration of the team's four sophomores, but also Community Pride Game on campus. In conjunction with the City of Petersburg, the Statesmen are holding a Canned Food Drive, with all proceeds being donated to The Hope Center in Petersburg. All fans who bring in a canned food, dry food or peanut butter will be admitted free of charge to the game.

The Statesmen (14-15, 8-9) are coming off a tough 79-74 loss to Wake Technical on Saturday. Bryant & Stratton is looking to snap a three-game losing streak, having lost to Patrick Henry 61-60 on Saturday.

GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Bryant & Stratton (18-10, 12-5) vs Richard Bland (14-15-, 8-9).
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016
Richard Bland Men's Basketball Home Page
Bryant & Stratton Men's Basketball Home Page
Site: Petersburg, Va.
Facility: Statesman Hall

LAST OUTING VS. BRYANT & STRATTON: Played on Feb. 7, the Statesmen trailed 49-30 at the half, but made 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, winning 76-62. 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.

CURRENT REGION X STANDINGS:
1. No. 7 Louisburg College, 15-2, 23-5
2. Catawba Valley Community College, 14-3, 21-7
3. Patrick Henry Community College, 13-4, 20-5
4. Bryant & Stratton College (VA), 12-5, 18-10
5. Pitt Community College, 9-8, 18-9
6. Richard Bland College, 8-9, 14-15
7. Wake Technical Community College, 6-11, 10-17
8. Lenoir Community College, 3-13, 5-16
9. Vance-Granville Community College, 3-13, 6-20
10. Guilford Technical Community College, 1-16, 6-22

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 (28.0 mpg) … Fellow sophomore forward Devin Smith averages 12.8 … Sophomore guard Reginald Moses averages 12.4 points off the bench.

OFF THE BACKBOARD: Gibson leads the Statesmen in rebounding (7.4 rgg) followed by Petersburg's Gevon Arrington (4.9) and McBride (4.2).

PROTECTING THE BALL: The nine turnovers committed against Brunswick C.C. on Feb. 14 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 No. 19 Potomac State on Feb. 13, the second best performance of the season following a 55.9 percent effort against CCBC Dundalk on Nov. 1.

ABOUT BRYANT & STRATTON: Freshman guard Greg Heckstall leads the Bobcats in scoring (12.1 ppg), followed by freshman guard Romello Anderson (10.7 ppg) … Heckstall leads the team in rebounding (8.8 rpg) followed by freshman forward Jaleel Ferguson (6.3 rpg) … The Bobcats average 76.1 points a game and allow 54.9.

WHAT'S NEXT: The Statesmen return to Statesman Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 23 against Bryant & Stratton … The game will honor the team's four sophomores Troy Gibson, Gerard Dean-McBride, Reginald Moses and Devin Smith … RBC is promoting a canned food drive at the game. Anyone who brings a canned good for donation to The Hope Center in Petersburg will be admitted free … Bryant & Stratton ends its regular season on Saturday and will next play at the Region X Conference Championships at Richard Bland on Feb. 27.