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.
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Greg Prouty
Director of Athletics Communications & Marketing
Richard Bland College
