No. 7 Richard Bland Falls To No. 15 Southern Maryland 82-80

DANVILLE, Ill. -- Sophomore Tre' Patterson/Richmond scored 12 points but No. 7 Richard Bland dropped an 82-80 decision to No. 15 Southern Maryland in a consolation game at the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship on Thursday afternoon at the Mary Miller Center in Danville, Illinois.  Classmates Tim Bing Jr./Suitland, Maryland and Robert Smith/Hampton each added 11 points for the Statesmen in the elimination contest played at Danville Area Community College.  Jerome Savoy scored a game-high 24 points for the Hawks (20-13).  Richard Bland completes its season with a final record of 22-11.

Richard Bland jumped out to an early 14-4 advantage, getting points from four different players, including four points each from Patterson and sophomore Deon Joyner/North Charleston, South Carolina.  The Statesmen took their largest lead of the game at 21-10 via a pair of free throws by freshman Kenny Southerland/Richmond, and it was 23-12 after a basket from freshman Ryan Jones/Smithfield.  Southern Maryland, however, outscored Richard Bland 27-19 to close within 42-39 at the intermission.

Southern Maryland continued its momentum at the start of the second half, scoring the first eight points to lead 47-42.  Richard Bland battled back with a 9-3 run to go ahead at 51-50 following a jumper by freshman Marvin Trotman/Virginia Beach, and it was tied at 53-53 when sophomore Ricky Hicks/Bronx, New York connected on a jumper at 11:13.  The Hawks, though, put together a 17-7 run to lead 70-60 with 5:20 remaining, and their advantage was still 78-69 with just 1:14 on the clock.  The Statesmen put forth a furious last-minute comeback attempt that saw them close within 81-80 with five seconds left after consecutive three-point field goals by Smith, but CSM made 1-2 free throws at :03.7, before a missed three-pointer by RBC at the final buzzer.

Patterson led Richard Bland with his team-high 12 points, adding a game-high 10 rebounds for his third double-double this season.  Bing and Smith each had 11 points for the Statesmen, with Bing adding game-highs of eight assists and three steals, while Joyner finished with nine points and eight rebounds.  Trotman contributed eight points, while Jones and sophomore Stanley Taylor/Petersburg each added seven points … Taylor with seven rebounds, as well.  The Statesmen shot 43% (31-73) from the field, including 29% (4-14) on three-pointers, and 58% (14-24) at the line.

Savoy led Southern Maryland with his game-high 24 points, adding six rebounds, while Jerry Sharpe had 13 points.  The Hawks shot 38% (25-66) from the field, including 31% (9-29) on three-pointers, and 59% (23-39) at the line.

Richard Bland and Southern Maryland were playing for the fourth time, as the Statesmen continue to lead the series, 3-1.  The Hawks were able to avenge a 101-85 loss to Richard Bland earlier this season on November 10, 2017.

It was the final game for Richard Bland Director of Athletics and Men's Basketball Head Coach Chuck Moore, who has previously announced his resignation, effective June 30, to pursue other professional opportunities.  Moore has been in the positions since 2012, resurrecting the NJCAA Division II athletics program that now includes men's basketball, men's soccer, softball, women's volleyball as well as men's and women's golf.  As the men's basketball head coach, he re-built the program following a 20-year hiatus from the sport.

Moore completed his Statesmen coaching career with an outstanding overall record of 126-42 (.750) over the past five seasons, including 71-24 (.747) in Region 10, while an even more impressive 64-10 (.865) at home in Statesman Hall since 2013-14.  He has led the program to a pair of 30-win seasons among three 25-win campaigns, earning NJCAA Division II Top 20 national rankings in each of the five seasons.  Moore led Richard Bland to the 2014-15 NJCAA Division II National Championship with a school-record of 32-4, including the Region 10 Tournament Championship.  He led the Statesmen to an overall record of 30-6 during 2016-17, making their second NJCAA DII National Tournament Final Four appearance in three years, after winning another Region 10 Tournament Championship.  This year's squad finished 22-11, while making the program's second-straight and third appearance in four years at the national tournament.

Moore will continue to lead Statesmen Athletics through June.