No. 14 Richard Bland Welcomes Catawba Valley (N.C.) Saturday
SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Richard Bland College returns home to Statesman Hall to host Region X Conference member Catawba Valley (N.C.) Community College on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. The Statesmen, ranked No. 14 in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll, have won four-straight games and feature an overall record of 8-2, while 2-0 in Region X. The Red Hawks are 4-2 overall, 0-0 in Region X.
The contest has been designated FCA Appreciation Day while sponsoring a Canned Food Drive to benefit The Hope Center in Petersburg. It's free admission for everyone; however, all fans are asked to please bring a canned food, dry goods or peanut butter to the game that is also recognizing the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) organization. The game can be heard locally on WHAP Radio, Fox Sports 1340 AM.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 14 Richard Bland (8-2, 2-0) vs. Catawba Valley (N.C.) (4-2, 0-0)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016
Time: 3 p.m.
Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM | Via Phone: 641-552-5316
Live Stats: rbcathetics.com
Location: Statesman Hall
Series History: Richard Bland leads 4-2
Scouting the Statesmen
No. 14 Richard Bland is 8-2 overall after winning a Region X game on the road at Pitt (N.C.) Community College 80-57 on Nov. 30 in Winterville, North Carolina. The Statesmen, who are an outstanding 82-27 (.752) 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 the first 10 games, Richard Bland has been led in scoring by 6-9 sophomore center Jaquan Wooten/Kinston, North Carolina, who is averaging 12.6 points (67.1 FG%), 9.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks with six double-doubles. He is followed by local 6-3 sophomore guard Gevon Arrington/Petersburg, who is averaging 11.3 points and 5.1 rebounds, while 6-4 sophomore guard Deandre Clark/Orange is averaging 11.1 points and 3.5 rebounds. Richard Bland is averaging 80.8 points per game, while allowing just 67.8 points to opponents for a scoring margin of +13.0.
Scouting Catawba Valley
Catawba Valley is 4-2 overall, 0-0 in Region X, and coached by sixth-year head coach Bryan Garmroth. The Red Hawks are averaging 79.2 points per game, while yielding 72.5 points following their most recent contest ... an 85-68 home win against Pasco-Hernando (Fla.) State College on Nov. 19. CVCC has been led in scoring by sophomore guard Derick Brewer (11.5), it's only player averaging double-figure points.
Series History
Richard Bland and Catawba Valley have played six times previously in the sport of men's basketball, and the Statesmen lead the series, 4-2. The Red Hawks, however, won a pair of close three-point games played last season ... defeating the Statesmen 67-64 on December 5, 2015 in North Carolina and 75-72 on February 6, 2016 in Statesman Hall.
Total Team Effort
Richard Bland has three players who are scoring at least 11.1 points per game, and four others who are scoring at least 5.1 points, while six others average between 3.4 and 4.8 points, respectively. The extremely balanced Statesmen feature 12 players who are averaging at least 10.0 minutes, including four who are playing at least 22.7 minutes, while the other two are averaging 9.6 and 7.1 minutes, respectively.
Among the National Leaders
Richard Bland is ranked 11th in NJCAA Division II rebounding (46.6), tied for 23rd in blocks (4.2) and 28th in steals (10.9). Jaquan Wooten is ranked fifth nationally in blocks (2.9), 17th in field goal percentage (49-73, 67.1%) and 26th in rebounding (9.8). Freshman Ricky Hicks/Bronx, New York is ranked 24th nationally in steals (2.8).
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 their most 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 College.
Up Next
Richard Bland will take a week off for fall semester examinations before continuing home action against Region X member Guilford Technical (N.C.) Community College next Saturday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. at Statesman Hall.