Sophomore Jaquan Wooten/Kinston, North Carolina scored a season-high 19 points, adding 11 rebounds for his third-straight double-double, to lead No. 14 Richard Bland College to an 84-75 men’s basketball road victory at The College of Southern Maryland on Wednesday night in La Plata, Maryland. Freshman Ricky Hicks/Bronx, New York added a season-high 16 points for the Statesmen, who scored the first 17 points of the second half while improving to 3-1 on the season. Richard Bland will travel to New Rochelle, New York this weekend to participate in the Monroe Classic hosted by NJCCA Division I Monroe College. The Statesmen will open the tournament against NJCAA Division II Frederick (Md.) Community College on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m.
Richard Bland, ranked No. 14 in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll, trailed 39-38 at halftime against Southern Maryland before taking control with the 17-0 run to begin the second half that gave the Statesmen a 55-39 advantage. The visitors maintained their lead for the remainder of the contest to earn their second consecutive victory away from home.
Wooten led Richard Bland with his season-high 19 points, adding the 11 rebounds for his third double-double in four games to open the season. Hicks finished with his season-high 16 points, adding five rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Jalen Jackson/Plainfield, N.J. and freshman Brandon Henry/Chester each added eight points, a season-high for Jackson, while sophomore Stanley Taylor/Petersburg contributed season-highs of seven points and six rebounds. Freshman Travius Smith/Norfolk scored six points while making his collegiate debut for the Statesmen.
Richard Bland was playing Southern Maryland for just the second time ever in the sport of men’s basketball, and the Statesmen now lead the series, 2-0.
Following the game versus Frederick CC on Saturday, Richard Bland will play host Monroe on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.
