Box Score

Dalton State 73, University of Mobile 65
 
The NAIA number 13 ranked Dalton State basketball squad held strong at the end and finished off visiting University of Mobile 73-65 Friday night at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center.

It was the first ever home conference game for the Roadrunners, who upped their record to 11-2 overall and 3-1 in the Southern States Athletic Conference.

A Mashburn Arena crowd of 1,131 saw Dalton State jump out to a 21 point lead (32-11) with 7:17 to go in the half. The visiting Rams pulled to within ten at 37-27. The Roadrunner led at the half, 29-15.

Dalton State had a couple of 19 point leads in the second half (60-41 and 68-49) before taking the game by the eight point margin.

All ten DS players saw action and eight scored. All 11 Rams players got in the game and nine scored. Mobile out rebounded the Roadrunners 51 to 43. Dalton State hit 24 for 34 from the free throw line while the Rams were 9-16.

"I was really impressed with our defense," Dalton State Coach Tony Ingle said. "We held them to 34 percent and that was one of our goals coming in. We really did a good job that way."

"We knew they were a good rebounding team and that they would be keying on Ladaris (Green) so they out rebounded us as a team and we outscored them as a team," Ingle added.

Senior point guard Sean Tate played all but one minute of the game and finished with 15 points and seven assists. Preston Earle scored 15 points and four rebounds in only 27 minutes.

Green completed a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds while playing all but four minutes. Jordan Bowling was limited to 28 minutes. He had 13 points and four rebounds before fouling out.

Jamaine Burrey came off the bench to score nine points and pull down three boards in only 19 minutes of action.

Mobile's Daouda Soumaoro played 38 minutes. He hit double-double with 13 points and a game high 16 rebounds. James Davis added ten Rams points. Kenny Davison and Matthew Smith-Cook each added nine.

"I could not be more proud of our team with what they did on the defensive end of the court and then being able to keep their composure late," said Ingle. 

"Trying to win both halves is tough. Kids need to play so we tried to play as many people as we could when we could. That's a good basketball team. Their record is not indicative of how good they really are. We really played well."

Dalton State will host Belhaven University Saturday at 5:00 p.m. The Blazers (4-11 overall, 0-3 SSAC) proved Friday that they can play with the best. Belhaven lost to NAIA number eight Martin Methodist Friday night by just six points, 94-88.

Mobile (4-8, 0-3) goes to Cochran, Georgia for a Saturday contest at Middle Georgia State. The Middle Georgia Knights surprised number five William Carey Friday night, 75-71. William Carey is 8-3 overall and 2-1 in the SSAC. 

The Roadrunners will entertain 9-4 Life University Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Roadrunners opened the 2014-2015 season with a 99-96 overtime win at Life.  
 
Friday Night NAIA Basketball: 
(13)Dalton State 73, University of Mobile 65
(8) Martin Methodist (TN) 94, Belhaven University (Miss) 88
Middle Georgia State 75, William Carey (Miss) 71
Blue Mountain 63, Coastal Georgia 58
Brewton-Parker 68, (RV) Bethel (TN) 65   






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