Marietta, Ga - The Dalton State Roadrunners had double digit leads in each half, but Southern Polytechnic (10-14) came back to earn an 11 point lead - 88-77 - with just over a minute left.
The Roadrunners (23-4) never gave up, chipping away but falling by two points, 92-90.
"We fought all the way to the buzzer and that makes me very proud," said Dalton State coach Tony Ingle. "I'm disappointed in our mental concentration," he added. "I felt that we made too many turnovers on the offensive end and we had too many defensive lapses in the second half."
Dalton had an eight point lead at the break, 46-38, but the Hornet dominated the second part of the game, 54-44.
"We had 14 steals at halftime to get us the lead," said Ingle. "Our offensive execution and defensive game slippage really hurt us after that."
LaDaris Green was in foul trouble early and played very little. He was limited to eight points and six rebounds.
Preston Earle scored a game high 24 Roadrunner points, Ricky Sears and Demetrice Jacobs each scored 20, and Tyrel Edwards added 13. Jacobs led Dalton State in rebounds with 10.
Southern Poly's Marcus Dortch and Chris Key each scored 19, Kevin Phillip had 15, Chris Kingsberry scored 14 (all but two in the second half), and CJ McElrath 11.
Dalton State was out rebounded 25-20. They only hit 47.06% from the field compared to the Hornets' 56.67%.Â
The Roadrunners travel back to Montgomery on Thursday night (8:00 p.m. CST) to battle Auburn Montgomery. They then head to Brunswich on Saturday, February 22, to meet College of Coastal Georgia at 4:00 p.m. EST.
Senior night rounds out the season as Dalton State hosts Tennessee Temple on February 25 at 7:00 p.m. We will honor Ricky Sears, Demetrice Jacobs, and Desmond Phillips.
The game will also have another "Green Out" as we sell T-Shirts to
raise money for the Green House, Dalton's Child Advocacy Center.
Short sleeve are $10 and long sleeve $15.
NAIA Scoreboard:
Men's Basketball -
Coastal Georgia handled Faulkner AL), 87-64
Talladega (AL) outscored Life (GA), 114-99
Belhaven (MS) downed Blue Mountain (MS), 75-72
Tennessee Wesleyan defeated Bryan (TN), 82-75
Allen (SC) whipped Orangeburg Prep (SC), 81-66
Reinhardt (GA) bested Point (GA), 85-73
Milligan (TN) downed Virginia Intermont, 98-93
Emmanuel (GA) clipped Southern Wesleyan (SC), 72-68
University of the Cumberlands (KY) escaped Bluefield (VA), 73-71
Pikeville (KY) over Georgetown (KY), 105-95
Martin Methodist defeated Mobile (AL), 63-56
Truett McConnell (GA)Â defeated St. Andrews 75-59
Women's Basketball -
Coastal Georgia defeated Faulkner (AL), 91-85
Southern Poly (GA) bested Brenau (GA) 74-57
Reinhardt (GA) downed Point (GA) 67-57
Bethel (TN) pounded Spring Hill (AL), 94-72
Tennessee Wesleyan over Bryan (TN), 58-42
Milligan (TN) defeated Virginia Intermont, 98-93
Mobile (AL) handled Martin Methodist (TN), 69-52
Belhaven (MS) edged Blue Mountain (MS), 61-60
Emmanuel (GA) defeated Southern Wesleyan (SC), 63-60
St. Andrews downed Truett-McConnell, 55-44
Bluefield (VA) over University of the Cumberlands (KY), 76-71
Baseball:
Emmanuel (GA), 9, Southern Wesleyan (SC) 5
Southern Wesleyan (SC) 5, Emmanuel (GA) 2
Spring Hill (AL) 8, William Carey (MS) 2
Spring Hill (AL) 3, William Carey (MS) 1
Southern Poly 5, Martin Methodist (TN) 3
Olivet Nazarine (IL) 5, Bethel (TN) 0
Cumberland (TN) 8, Taylor (IN) 2
Lindsey Wilson (KY) 9, Point (GA) 1
Thomas (GA) 7, Webber International (FL) 5
Point (GA) 5, Lindsey-Wilson (KY) 3
Softball:
Thomas (GA) knocked-off Truett-McConnell, 7-5
Mobile (AL) defeated Thomas (GA), 3-2
