No. 8 Richard Bland Welcomes Rival Patrick Henry Wednesday Night
SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Richard Bland College will play host to Region 10 Conference and in-state rival Patrick Henry Community College in men's basketball on Wednesday night, February 15 at 7 p.m. in Statesman Hall. The nationally-ranked Statesmen, No. 8 in this week's NJCAA Division II Top 20 Poll, feature an overall record of 21-4, including 13-2 in Region 10, with eight wins in their last nine games, and 17 wins in their last 19 games played. The Patriots are 13-9 overall, 11-5 in Region 10.
Admission is free to all Richard Bland home games, while the contest can be heard locally on WHAP Radio, Fox Sports 1340 AM. In addition, the first 75 Richard Bland students in attendance will receive free pizza.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 8 Richard Bland (21-4, 13-2) vs. Patrick Henry (13-9, 11-5)
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017
Time: 7 p.m.
Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM | Via Phone: 641-552-5316
Live Stats: rbcathetics.com
Location: Statesman Hall
Series History: 4-4
Scouting the Statesmen
No. 8 Richard Bland is 21-4 overall after a 104-82 home win past CCBC Dundalk (Md.) on Feb. 12. The Statesmen, who are an outstanding 95-29 (.766) over the past four 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 25 games, Richard Bland has been led in scoring by 6-4 sophomore guard Deandre Clark/Orange, who is averaging 12.9 points (66 3FGs), 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He is followed by local 6-3 sophomore guard Gevon Arrington/Petersburg, who is averaging 12.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists, while 6-9 sophomore center Jaquan Wooten/Kinston, North Carolina is averaging 11.5 points (66 FG%), 9.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks with nine double-doubles. Richard Bland is averaging 83.4 points per game, while allowing just 67.6 points to opponents for a scoring margin of +15.8.
Scouting the Patriots
Patrick Henry is 13-9 overall after a 90-70 road loss at No. 5 Louisburg on Feb. 11, and is coached by Kenneth Wade. The Patriots have been led in scoring by sophomores Gabriel Courtney (15.2), Ta'vion Petty (13.1) and Kyle Green (12.8). PHCC averages 85.5 points, while yielding 70.7 points for a scoring margin of +14.8.
Series History
Richard Bland and Patrick Henry are playing for the ninth time in the sport of men's basketball, and the series is tied at 4-4. The Statesmen won the first meeting this season against the Patriots by a score of 83-61 on January 25 in Martinsville. Deandre Clark led the way with 15 points for the visitors, followed by Jaquan Wooten (12), Gevon Arrington (11) and freshman Stanley Taylor/Petersburg (11). Desmond Brogsdale and Dequariaus Harper each scored 12 points for the hosts in that game. Patrick Henry did win three games against Richard Bland last year by scores of 95-88 in overtime at Statesman Hall (1/27/16), 68-64 in Martinsville (2/17/16) and 64-52 at Statesman Hall during the Region 10 Tournament (2/28/16).
Facing His Former School
Richard Bland head coach Chuck Moore (143-45 overall, .761) began his collegiate coaching career at Patrick Henry, leading the Patriots for two seasons (2007-09). He posted an outstanding overall record of 48-16 (.750), including a perfect 16-0 record in Region 10 during 2008-09. Coach Moore was named the Region 10 Coach of the Year that season, helping Patrick Henry earn a No. 11 national ranking. His 2007-08 team won the VCCS State Championship, and Moore's success with the Patriots earned him election into the PHCC Hall of Fame.
Among the National Leaders
Richard Bland is ranked ninth in NJCAA Division II rebounding (45.4), 15th in blocks (4.8), 22nd in steals (10.4), 31st in assists (18.2) and 39th in scoring (83.4). Jaquan Wooten is ranked fourth nationally in field goal percentage (65.7%, 111-169), seventh in blocks (2.8) and 25th in rebounding (9.1). Deandre Clark is tied for 24th nationally in three-point field goals (66). Freshman Ricky Hicks/Bronx, New York is ranked 42nd nationally in assists (4.8).
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 remains at home for three more Region 10 games to complete the regular season, including Bryant & Stratton on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m., followed by Vance-Granville (N.C.) (Wednesday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m.) and Wake Tech (N.C.) (Saturday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.). The Bryant & Stratton contest has been designated as Tri-Cities Schools Day.