STATESMEN FALL TO PATRICK HENRY, 64-52, IN REGION X TOURNAMENT

PETERSBURG, Va., (Feb. 28, 2016) – In a game full of emotion and intensity between two teams that are forging a strong rivalry, No. 2 seed Patrick Henry held off a concerted second half run by No. 7 seed Richard Bland, to eliminate the Statesmen from the Region X Conference Tournament, 64-52, on Sunday afternoon at Statesman Hall.

The loss ends Richard Bland's 2015-16 season at 15-17. Patrick Henry improves to 22-5 and advances to the Region X Conference semifinal next Friday against No. 3 Catawba Valley C.C. The other semifinal pits No. 1 Louisburg against No. 5 Pitt. C.C.

The Statesmen were undone by a slow start, managing just 11 points at halftime and trailed 29-11. An active Patrick Henry zone enabled the Patriots to secure its 18-point lead and force Richard Bland into a low percentage shooting first half.

The second half was an entirely different story as the Statesmen ticked away at the Patrick Henry lead and were mounting a comeback when it was stymied on three occasions by Patrick Henry sophomore guard Jarel Jennings who connected on three huge three pointers from NBA-range to swing the momentum in his team's favor.

Jennings' first came at the 11:27 mark, which pushed the Patrick Henry lead to 41-26. With Richard Bland down 42-34 with 8:35 left and mounting a comeback, Jennings connected on an off-balance 35-foot shot that extended the lead to 45-34. His third 3-pointer came with 5:51 to play – and deeper than his previous two – and it gave the Patriots breathing room at 53-42.

Despite the yeoman's efforts of sophomores Gerard Dean-McBride and Reginald Moses in the second half, the Statesmen were unable to reduce the Patrick Henry to less than eight points. A Dean-McBride jumper brought Richard Bland within 60-50 with 1:09 to play, but the Patriots were able to hold the Statesman at bay with late free throws.

Moses led Richard Bland in scoring with 13 points, followed by Smith and freshman guard Jordan Griggs with 11 each.

Jennings was a scoring machine for Patrick Henry, tallying 24 points on 7 of 10 from behind the arc.