No. 18 Richard Bland Defeats Visiting Catawba Valley (N.C.) 80-67

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Freshman Marvin Trotman/Virginia Beach scored a career-high 13 points off the bench to lead No. 18 Richard Bland College to an 80-67 Region 10 men's basketball victory past Catawba Valley (N.C.) on Saturday afternoon in Statesman Hall.  Sophomores Robert Smith/Hampton and Stanley Taylor/Petersburg, along with freshman Ryan Jones/Smithfield, each had 11 points, while sophomore Tre' Patterson/Richmond added 10 points for the host and nationally-ranked Statesmen (17-6, 11-4).  Tyrell Oglesby led the visiting Red Hawks (9-15, 4-11) with a game-high 17 points off the bench.

Richard Bland took an early 4-0 advantage and led 7-3 at 16:37 following a three-point field goal by Jones.  Catawba Valley fought back with five unanswered points for its only lead of the contest at 8-7 with 15:35 on the first-half clock.  The Statesmen responded with a 13-2 run to lead 20-10 at 11:49, getting points from five different players, including four each from Patterson and Smith.  A jumper from Trotman made it 26-14 at 6:31, and a slam dunk by Patterson at 3:24 made it 34-21 toward a 38-26 halftime lead for the hosts.

Richard Bland continued its momentum in the second half, leading 46-32 at 15:26 after a jumper by Taylor.  An old-fashioned three-point play by Trotman made it 52-35 at 14:01, and it was 59-38 at 11:33 following two free throws from Patterson.  The Statesmen took their largest lead at 64-42 with 10:04 remaining, getting a pair of free throws from Smith, and a layup from sophomore Tim Bing Jr./Suitland, Maryland made it 76-54 at 4:01.  Catawba Valley managed to outscore Richard Bland 13-4 over the final 3:23 to provide for the final margin.

Trotman led Richard Bland with his career-high 13 points.  Smith, Taylor and Jones each finished with their respective 11 points, and Taylor added a team-high eight rebounds, as well.  Patterson contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and a game-high five assists, while freshman Tyrell Mendenhall/Newberry, South Carolina added six points and five rebounds.  Richard Bland shot 41% (29-70) from the field, including 14% (4-29) on three-pointers, and 72% (18-25) at the free throw line.  The Statesmen had advantages of 40-22 in points scored in the paint, 26-11 in fastbreak points and 42-27 in bench points.

Oglesby led Catawba Valley with his game-high 17 points, adding six rebounds.  Isayah Johnson finished with 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while Marcus Talley had 13 points and a game-high six steals.  The Red Hawks shot 33% (23-70) from the field, including 36% (9-25) on three-pointers, and 40% (12-30) at the line.

Richard Bland and Catawba Valley were playing for the 10th time, and the Statesmen continue to lead the series at 8-2. 

Richard Bland will play on the road at Region 10 member and in-state rival Patrick Henry on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. in Martinsville.