No. 14 Statesmen Hosting Richard Bland Classic Friday & Saturday
SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- The Richard Bland College men's basketball team is hosting the Richard Bland Classic this weekend at Statesman Hall. The Statesmen (4-2), ranked No. 14 in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll, will play nearby Southside Virginia Community College on Friday, Nov. 18 at 5 p.m., before facing NJCAA Division I Cape Fear (N.C.) Community College, ranked No. 18 in the DI Preseason Poll, on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. Virginia Prep Sports Academy is the other team participating this weekend.
Special Promotions
The Friday game against Southside Virginia has been designated as Learner Mentor Appreciation Night, while the Saturday game against Cape Fear has been designated as Salute to the Brave: First Responders' Day. Richard Bland College Learner Mentors will be recognized on Friday night, as will all area First Responders: police officers, firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians in attendance on Saturday.
Free Admission
Richard Bland offers Free Admission to all home games this year in an effort to make Statesmen Basketball easily accessible for everyone and for all games to be a fan/family friendly environment. However, the Athletics Department is sponsoring "RBC for Haiti" this month and will be accepting food, clothing and/or monetary donations at the doors this weekend to send to Haiti through the "Helping Haitian Angels" organization.
RICHARD BLAND CLASSIC INFORMATION
No. 14 Richard Bland vs. Southside Virginia
Date: Friday, Nov. 18, 2016
Time: 5 p.m.
Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM | Via Phone: 641-552-5316
Live Stats: rbcathetics.com
Location: Statesman Hall
Series History: First Meeting
No. 14 Richard Bland vs. No. 18 Cape Fear (N.C.)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016
Time: 2 p.m.
Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM | Via Phone: 641-552-5316
Live Stats: rbcathetics.com
Location: Statesman Hall
Series History: Richard Bland leads 2-1
Other Classic Games
Cape Fear will play Virginia Prep on Friday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m., while Southside Virginia will play Virginia Prep on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 4 p.m.
Scouting the Statesmen
No. 14 Richard Bland is 4-2 after splitting two games at the Monroe College Tournament last weekend, defeating Frederick (Md.) 79-69 on Nov. 12 before falling to DI host Monroe (N.Y.) 62-48 on Nov. 13. The Statesmen, who are an outstanding 78-27 (.743) over the past three-plus seasons, are coached by head coach Chuck Moore, who is in his fourth season, and assisted by fourth-year assistant coach Brian Henderson, second-year assistant coach Preston Beverly and first-year graduate assistant coach Mike Wynn. Through six games, the Statesmen have been led in scoring by sophomore center Jaquan Wooten/Kinston, North Carolina, who is averaging 12.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks with four double-doubles. He is followed by local sophomore guard Gevon Arrington/Petersburg, who is averaging 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds, while sophomore guard Deandre Clark/Orange is averaging 10.0 points (14 3FGs) and 1.5 steals. Richard Bland is averaging 75.2 points per game, while allowing 67.3 points to opponents.
Scouting Southside Virginia
Southside Virginia is 0-3 and coached by 14th-year head coach Dennis Smith. The Force played at Region X member Louisburg (N.C) College on Nov. 4, falling 96-67. Southside's roster includes two local team members from Dinwiddie High School: sophomores Anthony Harris and Jordan Walker.
Scouting No. 18 Cape Fear (N.C.)
Cape Fear is 3-1 and coached by ninth-year head coach Ryan Mantlo. The high-scoring Sea Devils are averaging over 100 points per game at 109.5, including a 123-77 home win past Region X member Wake Tech (N.C.) Community College on Nov. 16. Cape Fear has six players averaging double-figure points, led by sophomore Jacque Brown (16.5) and freshman Jerick Haynes (15.0).
Series History
Richard Bland has never played Southside Virginia previously in men's basketball. The Statesmen and Cape Fear have played three times previously, and Richard Bland leads the young series, 2-1, though the Sea Devils won the most recent contest played last year in North Carolina, 85-76. The Statesmen wins were by scores of 90-81 (11/8/13, Away) and 87-82 (1/7/15, Home).
Spreading the Wealth
Richard Bland has three players who are scoring at least 10.0 points per game, and four others who are scoring at least 5.2 points. The Statesmen feature 10 players who are averaging at least 11.5 minutes per game, including four who are playing at least 23.3 minutes. The other four Statesmen on the roster are averaging from 6.3 to 9.4 minutes.
2015 NJCAA Division II National Champions
Richard Bland won the 2015 NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship, defeating John Wood (Ill.) Community College 64-53 on March 21, 2015 at the Mary Miller Gymnasium on the campus of Danville Community College in Danville, Illinois. The Statesmen finished the memorable storybook 2014-15 campaign with a school-record of 32-4, winning the national title in only their second year back in action following a 20-year hiatus from competitive sports at Richard Bland.
Up Next
Richard Bland will play two more games during the month of November to begin its Region X schedule, though both are on the road ... at Wake Tech (N.C.) next Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m., followed by a game at Pitt (N.C.) Community College on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.