Box Score (8) Dalton State Takes (12) Martin Methodist, 66-61 Dalton State's basketball Roadrunners won a battle of the two leading men's basketball teams in the Southern States Athletic Conference Saturday night, knocking off (12) Martin Methodist in a defensive struggle 66-61. With the season sweep of MM, the Roadrunners (22-3 overall, 12-2 SSAC) moved into sole possession of the conference lead.
The Redhawks used three early Justin Martin shots from beyond the arch to jump out to a five point lead (14-9) with 13:28 left in the first half, but the Roadrunners came back to tie the game at 14 about a minute later. Dalton then went on to an 11 point advantage at 33-22. Martin Methodist whittled the Roadrunner lead down to 36-30 at intermission.
Another Watson three point shot tied the game at 51 with 6:55 left. Darius Woods made a three pointer that put The Warhawks up 54-51. Dalton State took the lead for good (55-54) on an
Anthony Hilliard free throw followed by a
Sean Tate three pointer. Martin Methodist managed to tie the game on two separate occasions late – at 58 and again on another Watson three, this time at 61 with just 14 seconds on the clock.
Following a Roadrunner time-out and behind a fired-up crowd,
Anthony Hilliard hit a clutch three with 1.2 seconds left to put the hosts up 64-61.
After the Warhawks attempted to get off a hail merry to the other end, Coach Scott Combs argued that the clock had started late. This had actually given his team additional time to score. The referees put .2 seconds back on the clock, but not before Combs earned a technical. Hilliard went to the line and made both foul shots for the final 66-61 Dalton State win.
Hilliard had a game-high 22 points including three of six from beyond the arch.
Jamaine Burrey came off of the bench to score 13 points and add three assists. Tate had 11 points and five assists.
Jordan Bowling added 11 points and six rebounds.
Ladaris Green had seven points, four assists, a game high 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.
"Martin Methodist is an excellent basketball team," said Dalton Coach Tony Ingle. "I couldn't be more proud of the way our team played all night. Each and every man. It's a team game. There's always adjustments in a game and guys stepped up. A lot of good decisions were made at the end. People forget about the defensive game, but if you don't get some stops on the defensive end you have a different situation on offense. I couldn't say enough about the way we finished that ball game."
Ingle said the game came down to trust. "They trust each other. If you want luck in your life, trust people," said Ingle. "
Anthony Hilliard hit an amazing shot. Good players and good teams come up with big plays."
The coach expressed appreciation for the fans enthusiasm. "I have to thank the crowd. Their enthusiasm - cheering and excited – really kept our guys focused and kept them competing."
Martin Methodist outrebounded the Roadrunners, 47-34, but DS got more points in the paint, 24-20. Dalton was 14-20 (70%) from the charity stripe to The Warhawk's 3-7 (42.9%).
Watson finished with 20 points (6/7 from long range and 2/2 from the free throw line). He also had three assists. Darius Forrest had 15 points and nine rebounds. Darius Woods and Ryan Donald added 14 and 10 points respectively.
The remainder of the Dalton State regular season schedule is against SSAC opponents with two on the road followed by two at home. They are at Blue Mountain College (11-13, 6-9) in Blue Mountain, Miss. on Thursday, Feb. 19
th – 8:30 p.m. ET and travel to (19) Bethel University (20-6, 10-4) in McKenzie, TN on Saturday, Feb. 21
st – 6:00 p.m. College of Coastal of Georgia visits Mashburn Arena on Thursday, Feb. 26
th at 7:30 p.m. ET and Brewton-Parker (13-10, 6-8) will be at Mashburn Arena for senior night on Saturday, Feb. 28
th at 5:00 p.m.
The Warhawks (21-4, 11-3 SSAC) will go to (19) Bethel University on Thursday, Feb. 19
th, host Middle Georgia State on Saturday, Feb. 21
st, host Brewton-Parker on Thursday, February 26
th, and visit Blue Mountain on Saturday, February 28
th.
Saturday night NAIA Basketball:(8) Dalton State 66, (12) Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 61
Belhaven (MS) 69, (19) Bethel (Tenn.) 63
Blue Mountain (MS) 74, (RV) William Carey (MS) 62
Mobile 88, Coastal Georgia 75
Faulkner (AL) 75, Loyola (La) 68
Cumberlands (KY) 73, (6) Campbellsville (KY) 54
(4) Pikeville (KY) 95, St. Catherine (KY) 71
Monte Burrey of Martin Methodist was held scoreless Saturday night, but if he had made this shot from over half court as time ran out the first time he would have been a hero back in Pulaski, TN. and his coach wouldn't have gotten a technical. Now, Dalton Coach Tony Ingle would have had a legitimate complaint because the clock had started late. The officials placed .2 seconds back on the clock, but Anthony Hilliard hit two free throws because of the technical foul called on the coach.
Senior Anthony Hilliard had a game high 22 points, including the final five for the Roadrunners.
Ladaris Green pulls down a defensive rebound in the first half.
