No. 8 Richard Bland Hosting Vance-Granville (N.C.) Wednesday Night
SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Richard Bland College will host Region 10 member Vance-Granville (N.C.) Community College in men's basketball on Wednesday night, February 22 at 7 p.m. in Statesman Hall. The nationally-ranked Statesmen, No. 8 in the latest NJCAA Division II Top 20 Poll, feature an overall record of 23-4, including 15-2 in Region 10, with 10 wins in their last 11 games while 19-2 over the last 21 contests. The Vanguards are 5-22 overall, 2-16 in Region 10.
It's the annual Hall of Fame/Alumni Night contest as two new members of the Athletics Hall of Fame will be honored in a special pregame ceremony. Admission is free to all Richard Bland home games, while the contest can be heard locally on WHAP Radio, Fox Sports 1340 AM.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 8 Richard Bland (23-4, 15-2) vs. Vance-Granville (5-22, 2-16)
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017
Time: 7 p.m.
Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM | Via Phone: 641-552-5316
Live Stats: rbcathetics.com
Location: Statesman Hall
Series History: 7-0
Scouting the Statesmen
No. 8 Richard Bland is 23-4 overall after an 81-66 home win past Bryant & Stratton on Feb. 18. The Statesmen, who are an outstanding 97-29 (.770) 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 27 games, Richard Bland has been led in scoring by 6-4 sophomore guard Deandre Clark/Orange, who is averaging 12.7 points (68 3FGs), 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He is followed by local 6-3 sophomore guard Gevon Arrington/Petersburg, who is averaging 12.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists, while 6-9 sophomore center Jaquan Wooten/Kinston, North Carolina is averaging 11.6 points (63 FG%), 9.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks with 10 double-doubles. Richard Bland is averaging 82.9 points per game, while allowing just 67.0 points to opponents for a scoring margin of +15.9.
Scouting the Vanguards
Vance-Granville is 5-22 overall after a 98-93 home loss to Patrick Henry Community College on Feb. 17, and is coached by DeMarcus Oliver. The Vanguards have been led in scoring by sophomore TyQuon Reid (23.7), freshman NiQuon Cousins (18.5) and sophomore Chris Pernell (11.4). Reid ranks sixth nationally in NJCAA Division II scoring. Vance-Granville averages 76.7 points, while allowing 93.0 points to opponents for a scoring margin of -16.3.
Series History
Richard Bland and Vance-Granville are playing for the eighth time in the sport of men's basketball, and the Statesmen have never dropped a game to the Vanguards, leading the series 7-0. Richard Bland won the first meeting this season by a score of 99-68 on December 14, 2016 in North Carolina. Freshman Travius Smith/Norfolk led the way with 16 points, followed by Gevon Arrington and sophomore Harrison Mitchell/Hampton with 12 points each, along with Jaquan Wooten with 10 points and nine rebounds. TyQuon Reid had 27 points for the Vanguards. The Statesmen have won the last six games against Vance-Granville by an average margin of 29.7 points.
Among the National Leaders
Richard Bland is ranked eighth in NJCAA Division II rebounding (45.6), 16th in blocks (4.9), 20th in steals (10.6), 27th in assists (18.4) and 41st in scoring (82.9). Jaquan Wooten is ranked seventh nationally in blocks (2.9), 12th in field goal percentage (63.0%, 121-192) and 20th in rebounding (9.6). Deandre Clark is tied for 31st nationally in three-point field goals (68). Freshman Ricky Hicks/Bronx, New York is ranked 48th nationally in assists (4.7).
Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2017
Richard Bland will induct two new members into its Athletics Hall of Fame during a special pregame ceremony. The Class of 2017 includes Dr. Eric Cunningham '86, a member of the men's basketball team from 1984-86, along with Michael Gray '90, a member of the team from 1988-90. Cunningham led the Statesmen in both scoring and rebounding during his two years with the program, and was named the Team MVP during 1985-86, averaging a double-double of 19.5 points and 10.3 rebounds. Gray played for both the 1988-89 and 1989-90 Region 10 Championship teams, and was named the Team MVP during 1989-90, averaging a team-best 13.2 points, while second on the team with 7.0 rebounds.
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 its final Region 10 game to complete the regular season, as Wake Technical (N.C.) Community College visits on Saturday night, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. It'll be Sophomore Night in recognition of the six Statesmen completing their eligibility with the program this season.