No. 12 Richard Bland Back In Action This Week On The Road
SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- If it seems like Richard Bland College hasn't played a men's basketball game in nearly a month, well it hasn't. The NJCAA Division II nationally-ranked No. 12 Statesmen have not played since an 89-82 non-region home win past CCBC Catonsville (Md.) on December 15.
While Winter Storm Grayson caused cancellation of a scheduled contest at NJCAA Division I USC Salkehatchie on January 6, Richard Bland will finally return to action this week with a pair of Region 10 road games. The Statesmen are scheduled to play at Pitt (N.C.) on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. in Winterville, North Carolina, and at Lenoir (N.C.) on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 3 p.m. in Kinston, North Carolina.
Looking at the Statesmen
Richard Bland is 10-3 overall, 4-1 in Region 10, while an outstanding 114-34 (.770) over the past five seasons. The Statesmen are coached by fifth-year head coach Chuck Moore (162-50 overall), assisted by third-year assistant coach Preston Beverly and first-year assistant coach Anthony Sally.
Through 13 games, Richard Bland has been led in scoring by 6-4, 225-pound sophomore guard Robert Smith/Hampton, who is averaging 19.1 points and 5.9 rebounds. He is followed by 6-2 sophomore guard Tim Bing Jr./Suitland, Maryland (11.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists), 6-3 sophomore guard Tre' Patterson/Richmond (9.5 points, 3.7 rebounds), along with local 6-7 sophomore forward Stanley Taylor/Petersburg (9.2 points, 8.1 rebounds). Richard Bland is averaging 91.4 points, while allowing 78.6 points for a scoring margin of +12.8.
Ahead this Week
PCC entered this week with an overall record of 8-4, 2-3 in Region 10, while scheduled to host region opponent Catawba Valley (N.C.) on Jan. 9. Richard Bland defeated the Bulldogs earlier this season by a score of 92-76 on November 29 in Statesman Hall. Robert Smith led the home victory with a game-high 30 points, adding nine rebounds, while 5-11 freshman guard Ryan Jones/Smithfield (5.8 points, 3.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds) scored a season-high 16 points. Brandon Faison (24.9 points, 7.0 assists) led PCC with 26 points and seven assists.
LCC entered this week with an overall record of 4-8, 2-5 in Region 10, while scheduled to host NJCAA Division III Sandhills (N.C.) on Jan. 10. It'll be the first meeting between the two schools this season. Richard Bland swept both games last season by scores of 84-70 on Jan. 11, 2017 in North Carolina and 71-48 on February 1, 2017 in Statesman Hall.
Up Next
Richard Bland will play five consecutive Region 10 home games in Statesman Hall between Jan. 17-28. The Statesmen will host archrival and nationally-ranked No. 16 Louisburg (N.C.) on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m., followed by Wake Tech (N.C.) on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 3 p.m., in-state rival Patrick Henry on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m., Guilford Tech (N.C.) on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 3 p.m. and the return game against Lenoir on Sunday, Jan. 28, at 3 p.m. Admission is free to all Richard Bland home games.