Richard Bland Rolls Past Fayetteville Tech (N.C.) 92-66

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. — Sophomore Gevon Arrington/Petersburg scored a team-high 17 points to lead No. 6 Richard Bland College to a 92-66 Region X Conference men’s basketball victory past Fayetteville Technical (N.C.) Community College on Monday night at Statesman Hall. Classmates Deandre Clark/Orange and Jaquan Wooten/Kinston, North Carolina each added 13 points for the host and nationally-ranked Statesmen (14-3, 7-1), who led 40-30 at halftime. Trevor Lewis scored a game-high 22 points for the visiting Trojans (4-15, 1-7).

Richard Bland took early leads of 5-4 at 16:13 on a jumper in the lane by sophomore Harrison Mitchell/Hampton, and 11-7 at 11:10 on a layup by classmate Myles Markland/Petersburg. Fayetteville Tech tied the contest at 14-14 with 10:23 left in the period, before the Statesmen put together a 22-6 run to lead 36-20 at 2:47. Arrington sparked the run with 10 points, including two three-point field goals, while Clark added seven points during the outburst with a three-pointer, as well. The Trojans closed the half on a 10-4 run, though Richard Bland maintained a 10-point lead at the intermission, 40-30. Arrington and Clark each scored 10 first-half points for the hosts.

Richard Bland extended its margin to 48-32 with 17:03 remaining after another three-pointer by Clark that followed five-straight points from Wooten. A Markland layup made it 50-33 at 15:52, and it was 61-38 at 13:29 after a three-pointer by freshman Brandon Henry/Chester. FTCC managed to close to within 61-44 with 11:14 left to play, but the Statesmen slammed the door shut with a 15-6 run to lead 76-50 at 6:42, the largest lead of the night on a layup by freshman Robert Smith/Hampton. Richard Bland and the Trojans traded points down the stretch with freshman Deon Joyner/North Charleston, South Carolina and Henry each scoring on slam dunks on the final two baskets.

Arrington led Richard Bland with his team-high 17 points, including 3-5 three-pointers, adding five rebounds and three assists. Clark (3-6 3FGs) and Wooten each added 13 points for the Statesmen, with Wooten adding game-highs of 11 rebounds and three blocks for his eighth double-double, while Clark added four rebounds and three assists. Henry finished with 12 points and four rebounds, off the bench, while Mitchell contributed eight points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Ricky Hicks/Bronx, New York dished out a game-high seven assists, adding a game-high three steals. Richard Bland shot 51% (37-72) from the field, including 47% (9-19) on three-pointers, and 60% (9-15) at the free throw line. The Statesmen enjoyed a 49-30 advantage in rebounding, had a 56-20 advantage in points scored in the paint, and a 39-15 margin in bench points.

Lewis led Fayetteville Tech with his game-high 22 points, adding five assists, while Kei’Juan Major added 13 points and six rebounds. The Trojans shot 35% (20-58) from the field, including 29% (7-24) on three-pointers, and 76% (19-25) at the line.

Richard Bland and Fayetteville Tech were playing for the first-time ever in the sport of men’s basketball.

Richard Bland remains at home this week to welcome Pitt (N.C.) Community College on Thursday night, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. It will be Back to School Night, sponsored by Bojangles’ for all Richard Bland students. The Statesmen won at Pitt CC earlier this season on November 30, 2016 by a score of 80-57.

Greg Prouty

Director of Athletics Communications & Marketing

Richard Bland College

Brian Waters
Brian H. Waters is currently a broadcaster, writer and social media manager for Fox Sports 1340AM Hopewell, Virginia. He is also the Co-Host and Co-CEO of the Wrestling Wrealm. He and his co-host Dwayne Allen talk about professional wrestling with Superior Wrestling Intellect. In addition, he is apart of the Wrestling Summit as a co-host and lead graphics producer. He is a former production assistant at ESPN, where he worked in Sales Quality Control, Highlights, Prompting, Mike and Mike and Social Media. His intern experience includes Morgan State University Student Media, the Baltimore Sun, and the Better Business Bureau. His responsibility while interning was to shoot edit and post in a timely manner.