Richard Bland Rolls Past Visiting Vance-Granville (N.C.) 88-58

GAME VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (YouTube)

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Sophomore Tre' Patterson/Richmond matched his career-high with 21 points to lead Richard Bland College to an 88-58 Region 10 men's basketball victory past Vance-Granville (N.C.) on Sunday afternoon in Statesman Hall.  Classmate Robert Smith/Hampton added 18 points for the host Statesmen (20-8, 14-6), who led 37-19 at halftime.  LaQuad Holden led the visiting Vanguards (1-26, 0-20) with a game-high 23 points in the regular season finale for both teams.

Richard Bland jumped out to a 19-4 lead at 12:37 behind 11 quick points from Patterson, who opened the contest with a slam dunk off a backdoor lob pass from sophomore Ricky Hicks/Bronx, New York, later closing the early outburst with an offensive rebound put-back basket.  The Statesmen extended their advantage to 32-7 at 5:58, courtesy of a three-point field goal by freshman Marvin Trotman/Virginia Beach.  Vance-Granville, however, used a 12-5 run to narrow the margin to 37-19 at halftime.

Richard Bland started the second half fast, as well, using a 14-3 run to lead 51-22 at 15:15.  Patterson once-again sparked the quick beginning with eight points, while sophomore Deon Joyner/North Charleston, South Carolina added four points, including a slam dunk that was assisted by classmate Tim Bing Jr./Suitland, Maryland.  The Statesmen took their largest lead at 60-27 with 11:03 remaining via a pair of free throws by Joyner.  Vance-Granville managed to get within 64-43 at 6:46, but Richard Bland outscored the Vanguards 24-15 over the final 6:18 for the comfortable 30-point margin of victory.

Patterson led Richard Bland with his career-high 21 points, the second-straight contest that he has scored 21 points, adding six rebounds and four steals.  Smith finished with his 18 points, adding eight rebounds.  Redshirt-freshman Tyler Lloyd/Manassas and Trotman each contributed 11 points, with Lloyd adding five rebounds, as well.  Joyner had nine points and a career-high 12 rebounds, while Hicks had six points and six assists and Bing added three points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Holden led Vance-Granville with his game-high 23 points, while Calvin Manley finished with 14 points.

Richard Bland and Vance-Granville were playing for the 11th time, and the Statesmen have never lost to the Vanguards, now leading the series at 11-0.

It was Sophomore Day as Richard Bland recognized its seven sophomores during a special pregame ceremony, including Tim Bing Jr./Suitland, Maryland, Ricky Hicks/Bronx, New York, Tre' Patterson/Richmond, Robert Smith/Hampton, Stanley Taylor/Petersburg, Deon Joyner/North Charleston, South Carolina and Brandon Henry/Chester.

Richard Bland is hosting the first two rounds of the NJCAA Division II, Region 10 Tournament next weekend, March 3-4.  There will be four games on Saturday, March 3 at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.  There will be three games on Sunday, March 4 at 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.  Complete tournament seedings and pairings will be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 27; however, the Statesmen have secured the number three seed and will play on Sunday, March 4, at 4 p.m.