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Roadrunners Advance To Round Of 16 With Win Over Cumberlands (Ky.)
/ Men's Basketball

Roadrunners Advance To Round Of 16 With Win Over Cumberlands (Ky.)


KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Behind the late heroics of Benat Hevia, #4-seed Dalton State advanced to the Round of 16 with a 62-60 win over #5-seed Cumberlands (Ky.) in the first round of the NAIA Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. on Thursday morning.

THE FIRST HALF
Dalton State would get on the board first with a two-point bucket from Isaiah Box. The Patriots would strike back quick with a three-pointer from Chance Morton to take the early lead, 3-2. The first period would be tight with neither team letting the other get away. With the game tied at 15-15, Cumberlands would go on a 7-0 run to take a 22-15 lead.

Alex Ho-on would come down on the next possession and hit a key three-pointer the cut the deficit to four. After an exchange of baskets, Dalton State would find a rhythm and go on an 8-0 run of their own to take a three point lead, 29-26.

The Patriots would answer right back, closing the half on a 9-2 run to carry a 35-31 lead into the break.

First Half Trends: Ties 6, DS 3, CUMB 3;   Gain Lead 7, DS 3, CUMB 4;   Largest Lead DS 3, CUMB 7

THE SECOND HALF
The Roadrunners would open the second half scoring the first five points to take a one point lead. Cumberlands would answer and quickly kick the lead back up to six. Dalton State would battle tough, never letting the Patriot lead to grow past six.

Dalton State would continue to chip away, tying the game on two occasions, but struggled to take control. They would finally seize the opportunity with 3:06 left when Carnilious Simmons made a shot from the top of the lane to cut the lead to one. A defensive stop led to a miraculous Benat Hevia layup and one to give the Roadrunners a two point lead.

Cumberlands would strike back quickly with a Will Gary layup in the lane to tie the game for the 10th time, 60-60, with 24 seconds left. The Roadrunners would get the ball over half court and call timeout to setup for the last play.

With the time ticking off, Dalton State cleared the lane and put the ball in Benat Hevia's hands. The Spaniard would drive to his right with five seconds on the clock and get fouled by Eric Duncan.

Hevia would go to the line and knock down both free throws to give Dalton State a two point lead. Cumberlands would have one last chance, but Will Gary's layup attempt would be altered at the rim by Simmons. The ball would nick off the bottom of the rim and into the hands of Simmons as Dalton State walked away with the 62-60 victory.

Second Half Trends: Ties 4, DS 3, CUMB 1;   Gain Lead 7, DS 4, CUMB 3;   Largest Lead DS 2, CUMB 6

THE REST OF THE STORY
Dalton State improves to (25-8 overall) and advances to the Round of 16 with the win, while Cumberlands (Ky.) ends their season at (21-10 overall) with the loss. All-American Carnilious Simmons led the way with another double-double, 19 points and 10 rebounds. Isaiah Box added 11 points, while Benat Hevia had five points and four assists. Hevia's points were the final five of the ballgame for the Birds.

Bench play was crucial for the Roadrunners with Raheem England, Micah Woodard, and Alex Ho-on combining for 17 big points.

Cumberlands (Ky.) was led by Will Gary with 16 points and five rebounds. Anthony Eaves added 14 points on 4-8 shooting from behind the arc, but scored zero in the second half. Leading scorer Malik Colvin-Seldon was held to six points and two rebounds, seven points below his season average of 13.7.

The Dalton State defense was stifling, holding the top four scorers for the Patriots who average 49.3 ppg to just 23 points combined.

UP NEXT
The Roadrunners will advance to the Round of 16 where they will meet the winner of #1-seed William Penn (Iowa)/#8-seed Science & Arts (Okla.) on Friday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. (CDT) at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

 
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