No. 9 Richard Bland Hosts Fayetteville Tech (N.C.) On Saturday
UPDATE (1/6-4 P.M.): The Richard Bland College home men's basketball game scheduled against Fayetteville Technical (N.C.) Community College on Saturday, January 7, at 2 p.m. has been postponed due to the expected snowfall and impact of Winter Storm Helena. The contest has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. at Statesman Hall on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Nationally-ranked Richard Bland College will play its first men's basketball game in three weeks when it welcomes first-year Region X Conference member Fayetteville Technical (N.C.) Community College to Statesman Hall on Saturday, January 7 at 2 p.m. The Statesmen, ranked No. 9 in the most recent NJCAA Division II Top 20 Poll, have won eight-straight games and feature an overall record of 12-2, while unbeaten at 5-0 in Region X. The Trojans are 4-12 overall, 1-5 in Region X, though the program is not eligible for post-season this year.
The contest has been designated Military Appreciation Day as all members of the military and their families are invited to attend the first game of 2017 for the Statesmen. Admission is free to all home games, and the contest can be heard locally on WHAP Radio, Fox Sports 1340 AM.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 9 Richard Bland (12-2, 5-0) vs. Fayetteville Tech (N.C.) (4-12, 1-5)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017
Time: 2 p.m.
Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM | Via Phone: 641-552-5316
Live Stats: rbcathetics.com
Location: Statesman Hall
Series History: 1st Meeting
Scouting the Statesmen
No. 9 Richard Bland is 12-2 overall after defeating Region X opponent Vance-Granville (N.C.) Community College 99-68 on Dec. 14 in Henderson, North Carolina. The Statesmen, who are an outstanding 86-27 (.761) over the past three-plus seasons, are coached by head coach Chuck Moore (134-43), 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 14 games, Richard Bland has been led in scoring by local 6-3 sophomore guard Gevon Arrington/Petersburg, who is averaging 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He is followed by 6-9 sophomore center Jaquan Wooten/Kinston, North Carolina, who is averaging 11.6 points (66.3 FG%), 9.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks with six double-doubles, while 6-4 sophomore guard Deandre Clark/Orange is averaging 11.0 points (31 3FGs), 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Richard Bland is averaging 83.1 points per game, while allowing just 67.3 points to opponents for a scoring margin of +15.8.
Scouting Fayetteville Tech
Fayetteville Tech is 4-12 overall, 1-5 in Region X, and coached by head coach Brian Hurd. The Trojans are playing their first season of men's basketball since the school eliminated the program in 1974. FTCC averages 86.1 points per game, but yields 98.3 points following their most recent contest ... a 93-80 home loss to Central Carolina (S.C.) Technical College on Jan. 4. The Trojans have been led in scoring by sophomore Kenny Walters (16.6), along with freshmen Kei'Juan Major (14.2) and Tristen Rodriguez (12.9).
Series History
Richard Bland and Fayetteville Tech are playing for the first time in the sport of men's basketball.
Total Team Effort
Richard Bland has three players who are scoring at least 11.0 points per game, and six others who are scoring at least 5.1 points, while four more average between 3.1 and 4.8 points, respectively. The extremely balanced Statesmen feature all 13 players who are averaging at least 10.1 minutes, including four who are playing at least 21.6 minutes, while the other nine are averaging between 10.1 and 14.4 minutes, respectively.
Among the National Leaders
Richard Bland is ranked seventh in NJCAA Division II rebounding (47.6), 15th in blocks (4.9), tied for 20th in steals (11.1), 28th in assists (18.1) and 40th in scoring (83.1). Jaquan Wooten is ranked eighth nationally in blocks (2.9), 11th in field goal percentage (65-98, 66.3%) and 31st in rebounding (9.1). Freshman Ricky Hicks/Bronx, New York is ranked 33rd nationally in assists (5.2) and 37th in steals (2.5).
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 play two Region X road games next week, beginning at Lenoir (N.C.) Community College on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. in Kinston, North Carolina, before playing at nationally-ranked No. 17 Louisburg (N.C.) College next Saturday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. in Louisburg, North Carolina.