No. 14 Richard Bland Plays At Southern Maryland Wednesday Night
SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Richard Bland College will play at the College of Southern Maryland in non-conference men's basketball action on Wednesday night, November 9, in La Plata, Maryland. The Statesmen, ranked No. 14 in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll, have a record of 2-1, while the Hawks' record is 0-2. Tip-off is set for at 6 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 14 Richard Bland at Southern Maryland
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: La Plata, Maryland
Series History: Statesmen lead 1-0
Scouting the Statesmen
No. 14 Richard Bland is 2-1 after splitting two games at the FCC Tip-Off Tournament in Frederick, Maryland this past weekend, Nov. 4-5. The Statesmen defeated Delaware Tech Community College 70-51 on Nov. 5, following an 84-83 setback to Valley Forge (Pa.) Military College on Nov. 4. Richard Bland, who is an outstanding 76-26 (.745) over the past three-plus seasons, is 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 three games, the Statesmen have been led in scoring by sophomore guard Deandre Clark/Orange, who is averaging 14.3 points (11 3FGs), 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists. Sophomore center Jaquan Wooten/Kinston, North Carolina is averaging 12.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks, posting two double-doubles at the FCC Tip-Off Tournament, while local sophomore guard Gevon Arrington/Petersburg is averaging 10.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Richard Bland is averaging 80.0 points per game, while allowing 66.0 points per game to opponents.
Scouting the Hawks
Southern Maryland is 0-2 after dropping a pair of games in Louisburg, North Carolina this past weekend. The Hawks fell to Sandhills (N.C.) Community College 99-87 on Nov. 4, and to host Louisburg College 95-82 on Nov. 5. Southern Maryland is coached by head coach Alan Hoyt, who is in his 10th season, and assisted by sixth-year assistant coach Burton Moody and assistant coach Daniel Richards. Through two games, the Hawks have been led in scoring by sophomore guard Anthony Williams, who is averaging 22.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists. Sophomore guard Dominic Espeleta is averaging 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists, while freshman forward Levon Randall is averaging 11.5 points and 4.0 rebounds. Southern Maryland is averaging 84.5 points per game, while yielding 97.0 points per game.
Series History
Richard Bland and Southern Maryland have met just one time previously in the sport of men's basketball. The Statesmen won that game by a score of 112-89, played on Nov. 2, 2013 in Statesman Hall to open the 2013-14 season. It marked the first regular-season contest for Richard Bland in 20 years, as it was the first game for the program following a 20-year hiatus from competitive sports at the school.
Spreading the Minutes
Richard Bland has 10 different players who are averaging at least 10 minutes per game, including four who are playing at least 20 minutes per game. The other three Statesmen on the roster are averaging near double-figure minutes, as well, ranging from 7.7 to 9.3 minutes per game.
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 the storybook 2014-15 campaign with a school-record of 32-4, winning the national title in only their second year back in action following the 20-year hiatus.
Up Next
Richard Bland will travel to New Rochelle, New York this weekend to participate in the Monroe Classic hosted by NJCAA Division I Monroe College. The Statesmen will play NJCAA Division II Frederick (Md.) Community College on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m., before facing host Monroe on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.