No. 8 Dalton State basketball (12-3 overall, 4-1 SSAC) held on Thursday for a 73-66 win over visiting Martin Methodist (Tn.) at Mashburn Arena. With the loss, the Redhawks fall to 9-6 overall and 3-2 SSAC.

The teams battled throughout the game. The largest lead for either team came with 2:53 left in the game. A couple of Rudy Winters buckets in the paint gave Dalton State a ten point lead.

Jalen Robinson again came off the Roadrunner bench to lead the team in scoring with 23 points, including 10-11 from the floor. Robinson also had five rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal. Winters also came off the bench and scored 18 points. He had three assists and one steal.

Jordan Bowling hit double figures with 11 points and had seven rebounds, one assist and two steals. Jamaine Burrey added eight points. Marcel Hawkins scored six while leading DS in rebounds with eight.

Dalton State out rebounded Martin Methodist, 48-32, including pulling down 39 defensive rebounds. The Roadrunners shot 83.3% from the foul line (15-18), but the visitors connected on 91.7% from the charity stripe (11-12).

"I'm really proud of the players and how they responded," said DS Coach Tony Ingle. "Martin Methodist is an excellent team and well coached. We had to fight for our life off to win this game with defensive rebounds and togetherness, coming up with good stops at the right times, coming up with nice inside and outside action. I couldn't say enough about our team. It was a team effort. Everyone who played contributed."

Zach Dean only scored four points, but deserved some special consideration. "He came in and settled us down. He made sure we'd actually get some shots at the basket," said Ingle. "We're putting this thing together. It's a tough conference and we'll see what happens."

Caleb Chowbay and Toderick Davis led the Warhawks in scoring with 19 and 18 points respectively. Darius Forrest scored 14.

Dalton State will host Bethel (Tn.) at Mashburn Arena on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. The Wildcats lost Thursday night at Middle Georgia State, 67-66. The loss dropped their record to 9-6 overall, 2-3 SSAC.

After Saturday, the Roadrunners go on the road for three contests before returning home to host College of Coastal Georgia on January 28^th.

Photo Gallery:

Thursday NAIA Scoreboard:

(8) Dalton State 73, (RV) Martin Methodist (Tn.) 66

Middle Georgia State 67, Bethel (Tn.) 66

Mobile (Ala.) 71, Coastal Georgia 57
William Carey (Miss.) 75, Auburn Montgomery 72

Faulkner (Ala.) 82, Blue Mountain (Miss.) 60

(2) Pikeville (Ky.) 98, (15) Lindsey Wilson 63

Campbellsville (Ky.) 99, Life (Ga.) 93

Cumberlands (Ky.) 88, Cumberland (Tn.) 44

Milligan (Tn.) 82, Bryan (Tn.) 56

Point (Ga.) 85, Truett-McConnell (Ga.) 84

Ave Maria (Fl.) 79, Webber International (Fl.) 66