Box Score

 
Very few games are easy in the Southern States Athletic Conference and Thursday night's Dalton State home win was no exception. The Roadrunners (13-7 overall, 5-5 SSAC)  returned home for a 65-61 victory over Coastal Georgia in what Coach Tony Ingle called "the friendly confines of Mashburn Arena."

"It's good to be back home and hear everybody cheering and saying something good," said Ingle. "We've been on the road six out of eight games and over 50 hours on the bus. I think we were shooting at the side baskets on the road. I really love this team. I love the kids. They work hard. The defense is improving. We've got new guys learning a new system. Learning each other. All in all we're getting better. It was a great win and we needed it."

A 3-pointer by Jamaine Burrey with 2:16 before intermission put Dalton State up by 8 points at 31-23, but the Mariner scored the final five points of the half to trail by only three at the break, 31-28. Coastal Georgia took their first lead of the night (34-33) on a Malik Channer bucket right after the half and their largest lead of the night (37-35) with 19:31 remaining. A Jordan Bowling 3-pointer quickly gave the Roadrunners back the lead at 38-37. DS went up by seven (46-39) on a Bowling shot in the paint at the 12:48 mark.

The defending NAIA National Champion Roadrunners lead went to eight (55-47) when Rudy Winters hit a shot in the paint and a follow-up free throw, but the Mainers never gave up. The game was tied at 60 and again at 61. Dalton State broke the tie on Jalen Robinson shot underneath and two crucial Marcel Hawkins free throws.

Robinson led Dalton State in scoring and rebounds. He had 16 points and nine rebounds. Bowling had 15 points and six rebounds. He was 3-5 from outside the arch. Winters was 4-5 from the free throw line and scored 11 points. Deshawn Ruffin scored seven points and added three assist. Hawkins scored six points for Dalton State. Burrey tallied five points.

The Roadrunners hit 25-53 from the floor (47.17) while the Mariners connected on 22-58 for 37.93%. Free throws kept Coastal Georgia in the game. The hosts hit only 6-14, or 42.86%. The visitors were 15-21 or 71.43%. Rebounding was close with Dalton State taking that battle, 35 to 34.

Dominic Early of the Mariners hit double-double with a game high 22 points and 10 rebounds. Marquice Jones had 11 points and three assists. Jamael Rhodes added 10 points.

The Roadrunners will host Brewton-Parker Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at Mashburn Arena. The Barons (7-13, 3-8) lost 92-85 Thursday night to Middle Georgia State in Cochran. The Voorhees Tigers, an NAIA Division I Independent, will be at Mashburn on Tuesday evening for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.
 
NAIA Basketball Scoreboard:
Dalton State 65, Coastal Georgia  61
Bethel –TN  91, (RV) Mobile – AL  81
(RV) Middle Georgia State 92, Brewton-Parker – GA  85
Loyola – LA  72,  Martine Methodist – TN  68
Pikeville – KY  102, Life – GA 97
Georgetown – KY  90, St. Catharine – KY  76
Cumberland – TN  78, Lindsey Wilson – KY  65
Campbellsville – KY  84, Shawnee State – OH  72

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