SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. — Richard Bland College will host Region 10 Conference member Lenoir (N.C.) Community College in men’s basketball on Wednesday night, February 1 at 7 p.m. in Statesman Hall.  The nationally-ranked Statesmen, No. 5 in this week’s NJCAA Division II Top 20 Poll, feature an overall record of 18-3, including 11-1 in Region 10, with five-straight wins and 14 wins in their last 15 games played.  The visiting Lancers are 6-14 overall, 3-8 in Region 10.

The contest has been designated as the program’s Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers / Pink Out contest to raise awareness about the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving mission, and to promote the American Cancer Society as a place for help and support.  The Statesmen coaching staff will wear sneakers with their game attire as a visible reminder about the importance of nutrition and physical activity in reducing cancer risk.

Admission is free to all Richard Bland home games, and everyone is encouraged to wear pink attire.  The contest can be heard locally on WHAP Radio, Fox Sports 1340 AM.

GAME INFORMATION
No. 5 Richard Bland (18-3, 11-1) vs. Lenoir (N.C.) CC (6-14, 3-8)
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017
Time: 7 p.m.
Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM | Via Phone: 641-552-5316
Live Stats: rbcathetics.com
Location: Statesman Hall
Series History: 10-0 

Scouting the Statesmen
No. 5 Richard Bland is 18-3 overall after a 101-82 road win at Guilford Technical (N.C.) Community College on Jan. 28.  The Statesmen, who are an outstanding 92-28 (.767) over the past four seasons, are 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 21 games, Richard Bland has been led in scoring by 6-4 sophomore guard Deandre Clark/Orange, who is averaging 12.5 points (56 3FGs), 3.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists.  He is followed by local 6-3 sophomore guard Gevon Arrington/Petersburg, who is averaging 12.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists, while 6-9 sophomore center Jaquan Wooten/Kinston, North Carolina is averaging 11.5 points (66 FG%), 9.3 rebounds and 3.1 blocks with eight double-doubles.  Richard Bland is averaging 83.9 points per game, while allowing just 68.1 points to opponents for a scoring margin of +15.8.

Scouting Lenoir
Lenoir is 6-14 overall after a 74-72 road loss at Patrick Henry on Jan. 28, and is coached by head coach Bryan Bagwell.  The Lancers have one player averaging double-figure points in sophomore Rasheed Brown (18.1).  Lenoir averages 82.9 points, while allowing 87.4 points for a scoring margin of -4.5.

Series History
Richard Bland and Lenoir are playing for the 11^th time in the sport of men’s basketball, and the Statesmen have never lost to the Lancers, leading the series 10-0.  Richard Bland has earned three victories past Lenoir in each of the past three seasons, including Region 10 Tournament wins during each year.  The Statesmen won the first meeting between the two schools this season by a score of 84-70 on January 11 in Kinston, North Carolina. Deandre Clark led the way in that contest with a game-high 22 points, including 6-10 three-point field goals, adding six rebounds while Jaquan Wooten added 14 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks.

Total Team Effort
Richard Bland has three players who are scoring at least 11.5 points per game, and seven others who are scoring at least 5.2 points, while three more average between 2.4 and 4.5 points, respectively.  The extremely balanced Statesmen feature all 13 team members who are averaging at least 10.6 minutes, including four who are playing at least 21.7 minutes, while the other nine are averaging between 10.6 and 14.3 minutes, respectively.

Among the National Leaders
Richard Bland is ranked eighth in NJCAA Division II rebounding (45.7), 13^th in blocks (5.3), 22^nd in steals (10.7), 29^th in assists (18.2) and 40^th in scoring (83.9).  Jaquan Wooten is ranked sixth nationally in both blocks (3.1) and field goal percentage (94-143, 65.7%) and 23^rd in rebounding (9.3).  Deandre Clark is ranked 26^th nationally in three-pointers (56).  Freshman Ricky Hicks/Bronx, New York is ranked 39^th nationally in assists (4.7).

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 their most memorable storybook 2014-15 campaign with a school-record of 32-4, winning the national title in only their second year back in action following a 20-year hiatus from competitive sports at Richard Bland College.

Up Next
Richard Bland will play a Region 10 road game at Catawba Valley (N.C.) Community College this Saturday, Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. in Hickory, North Carolina.  The Statesmen return home to welcome region rival and nationally-ranked No. 8 Louisburg (N.C.) College next Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in Statesman Hall.  That game has been designated as the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce Night, as well as Richard Bland College Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night.

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. — Richard Bland College is ranked No. 5 in this week’s NJCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Top 20 Poll, as released on Tuesday.  The nationally-ranked Statesmen are currently 18-3 overall, including 11-1 in Region 10, with five-straight wins and 14 wins in their last 15 games overall.  Richard Bland is scheduled to host region member Lenoir (N.C.) Community College on Wednesday, February 1 at 7 p.m.

Richard Bland moved up one spot this week following a pair of Region 10 road wins, including at rival Patrick Henry Community College on Feb. 25, 83-61, and at Guilford Technical (N.C.) Community College on Feb. 28, 101-82.  The Statesmen had been ranked No. 6 in last week’s poll.

Southwestern (Iowa) Community College (21-0) is ranked No. 1 for the fourth consecutive week, while region rival Louisburg (15-3) is ranked No. 8 this week.

The complete NJCAA Division II Poll can be found below.

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.