No. 14 Richard Bland Wins Region X Opener At Wake Tech (N.C.) 81-74

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Sophomore Jaquan Wooten/Kinston, North Carolina posted his sixth double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead No. 14 Richard Bland College to an 81-74 Region X Conference men's basketball road victory at Wake Technical (N.C.) Community College Tuesday night in Raleigh, North Carolina. Sophomore Deandre Clark/Orange added 14 points, and freshman Ricky Hicks/Bronx, New York had 13 points and seven assists for the visiting Statesmen (7-2, 1-0 Region X) in their first conference game of the season against the host Eagles (4-2, 2-1 Region X).

Richard Bland, ranked 14th in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll, trailed 38-35 at halftime in its opening league contest at Wake Tech. The Statesmen, however, battled back during the final 20 minutes to outscore the Eagles 46-36 behind 14 second-half points from Wooten, 10 second-half points by Clark and nine second-half points from Hicks.

Wooten led Richard Bland with his sixth double-double in nine games, finishing with team-highs of 18 points and 13 rebounds. Clark added 14 points for the Statesmen, Hicks contributed 13 points, seven assists and four steals, while sophomore Gevon Arrington/Petersburg had 11 points.

Richard Bland was playing Wake Tech for the eighth time in the sport of men's basketball, and the Statesmen now lead the series, 5-3.

Richard Bland will take a few days off this week for the Thanksgiving Holiday before again playing on the road at Region X member Pitt (N.C.) Community College next Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. in Winterville, North Carolina.