No. 2 Richard Bland Runs Past Visiting Southern Maryland 101-85

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SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Sophomore Robert Smith/Hampton scored a career-high 29 points to lead No. 2 Richard Bland College to a 101-85 men's basketball victory past the College of Southern Maryland on Friday night in Statesman Hall.  Sophomore Ricky Hicks/Bronx, New York added 15 points for the preseason nationally-ranked Statesmen (4-0), while classmate Tim Bing Jr./Suitland, Maryland had 14 points for the hosts.  Sean Scott scored 28 points for the visiting Hawks (2-1).  Richard Bland remains at home to play NJCAA Division I Cape Fear (N.C.) Community College next Wednesday, November 15, at 6 p.m. in Statesman Hall.

Richard Bland and Southern Maryland were tied early at 8-8 with 16:58 on the clock after a fast break slam dunk by sophomore Tre' Patterson/Richmond, assisted by Smith.  The Statesmen led 18-12 at 12:52 following a free throw by Smith, but the Hawks used a 16-6 run to lead 28-24 at 7:20.  Richard Bland, however, scored 10 unanswered points to go back ahead at 34-28 with 6:11 left in the half, the quick outburst capped by a layup and three-point field goal from freshman Marvin Trotman/Virginia Beach.  CSM managed to tie it again at 34-34 with 5:02 on the clock, before the Statesmen closed the first half with a 19-10 run to lead 53-44 at the intermission.  Smith scored 11 points during the late run, including a trio of three-pointers, along with an alley-oop dunk off an assist from Patterson, while Trotman and redshirt-freshman Miodrag Dronjak/Kladova, Serbia each made three-pointers, as well.

Richard Bland extended its lead to 56-46 early in the second half, getting an old-fashioned three-point play inside from sophomore Stanley Taylor/Petersburg at 19:11.  CSM closed to within 56-54 at 18:01, but the Statesmen used a 10-1 run to lead 66-55 at 14:18, getting three points each from Smith, Hicks and freshman Kenny Southerland/Richmond.  The Hawks closed to within 72-67 at 9:10, and were within 82-76 at 4:07, before Richard Bland closed the door on the visitors … outscoring them 19-9 over the final 3:53.  A three-pointer by freshman Wayne Clevert/Richmond put the hosts at the century mark with 25-seconds remaining toward the final 16-point margin of victory.

Smith led Richard Bland with his career-high 29 points, adding nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks.  Hicks added 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Bing finished with 14 points, seven assists and four rebounds.  Taylor and Trotman each scored nine points with Taylor adding five rebounds, as well.  Southerland contributed eight points and a career-high 17 rebounds.  The Statesmen bench outscored CSM 44-21, and the hosts outrebounded the visitors 58-38, including 22 offensive boards for a 31-12 advantage in second-chance points.  Richard Bland shot 47% (39-83) from the field, including 30% (9-30) on three-pointers, and 54% (14-26) at the free throw line.

Scott led Southern Maryland with his 28 points, while Trevon Porter added 19 points and Juwan Smith had 15 points.  The Hawks shot 42% (30-71) from the field, including just 2-23 on three-pointers, and 64% (23-36) at the line.

Richard Bland and Southern Maryland were playing for only the third time in the sport of men's basketball, and the Statesmen lead the series 3-0.