STATESMEN TAKE BRYANT & STRATTON TO THE WIRE IN 87-80 LOSS

PETERSBURG, VA., (Feb. 23, 2016) – The Region X Conference playoffs are four days away, but Tuesday night's clash between the Richard Bland College men's basketball team and Bryant & Stratton College had all the trappings of what you'd expect from a late season game with both teams trying to find the right groove.

Before a raucous and energized Statesman Hall crowd, Bryant & Stratton held off a furious second half Richard Bland rally to earn a hard-fought 87-80 victory, but the Statesmen, who will host the Region X Tournament this Saturday and Sunday, served notice that they're be tough out against any team they face.

Down by as many as 16 points in the first half, the Statesmen drew within 74-70 with 2:12 to play following two made free throws from sophomore forward Devin Smith, but the Bobcats scored the next six points to quickly build up the lead to 10 points with 1:02 remaining. Richard Bland couldn't make enough stops or convert on the offensive end to get over the hurdle.

On Tuesday night, the Statesmen celebrated its four sophomore players, Smith, guards Gerard Dean-McBride and Reginald Moses and forward Troy Gibson. The contest was also Community Pride Game, with a packed crowd bringing donations to The Hope Center in Petersburg.

The loss ends the regular season for the Statesmen, who drop to 14-16, 8-10. Bryant & Stratton improves to 19-10, 13-5. Richard Bland heads into the Region X Tournament as the No. 7 seed and will face either Lenoir or Vance-Granville on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Statesman Hall. Bryant & Stratton earned the No. 4 seed and faces No. 5 seed Pitt C.C. on Sunday at 10 a.m.

"We couldn't get over the hump tonight, that's the bottom line," said Richard Bland head coach Chuck Moore. "It came down to getting defensive stops, which we didn't make. But come Saturday, we'll be a No. 7 seeded team that no one will want to play on its home court. We match up with everyone in our conference."

The Statesmen, who trailed by eight to ten points in the second half after heading into the locker room down 40-28 at half, mounted its comeback with seven minutes to play. Richard Bland rode the aggressive, attacking game of Smith and McBride to cut the lead to 68-61 with 6:11 to play following a 3-pointer from the corner from freshman Nikola Lakic.

The Bobcats, who shot 48 percent from the floor in the second half, kept the Statesmen at bay by converting on 16 of 23 second half free throws. Made free throws by Bryant & Stratton's A'Kanni White and Shyheim Draughan helped push the visitors lead to 74-64 with 3:57 to play. A layup from Smith, Petersburg's Gevon Arrington and two free throws by Smith brought RBC within 74-70 with 2:12 to play.   

Smith led the Statesmen with 20 points, followed by McBride with 19 points and six assists. Arrington chipped in with 14 points and a team-best 6 rebounds.

Bryant & Stratton placed four players in double figures, led by Jaron Burnell with 18 points and Greg Heckstall with 16 point.