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Dalton State College Athletics

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Men's Basketball-Antonio Lewis
74
Winner St. Mary-Woods ST. MARY 27-5
67
Dalton State (GA) DALTON S 24-7
Winner
St. Mary-Woods ST. MARY
27-5
74
Final
67
Dalton State (GA) DALTON S
24-7
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
St. Mary-Woods ST. MARY 33 41 74
Dalton State (GA) DALTON S 30 37 67

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Erik Simpson, Sports Information Director

Tough Battle Ends In Narrow Defeat For Roadrunners


DALTON, Ga. – In a tough battle, #6-seed Dalton State met their match in the NAIA Men's Basketball Championship First Round, falling short 74-67 to #11-seed St. Mary of-the-Woods (Ind.) at Bandy Gym in Dalton on Friday evening. The Pomeroys answered the Roadrunners at every turn and held on late for the win to advance to the second round.
 
RECAP
FIRST HALF
Dalton State came out strong in the first half, determined to defend their home court at Bandy Gym against a formidable St. Mary-Woods team. Antonio Lewis led the charge offensively, scoring 11 points and grabbing six rebounds. Omarion Smith contributed with five points and five rebounds, including three offensive boards that kept Dalton State in contention. The Roadrunners excelled in second-chance opportunities, securing 14 points off offensive rebounds. The team battled valiantly, but their shooting percentage in the first half stood at 36.7%, compared to St. Mary-Woods' 35.1%, leaving Dalton State trailing 33-30 at halftime.
 
SECOND HALF
The Roadrunners showed grit and resilience after the break, with Qualen Pettus stepping up to score 10 points and adding five rebounds. Kawasaki Ricks injected energy into the offense, scoring 10 points, including a crucial three-pointer. Dalton State increased their free-throw percentage to 66.7%, improving from the first-half struggles. Despite their efforts to close the gap, St. Mary-Woods surged ahead in the latter stages, propelled by Greg Jenkins' 15 points in the second half and dominant paint presence. The Roadrunners' shooting woes continued, ending the half with a field goal percentage of 38.5%, while St. Mary-Woods shot an impressive 51.7%.
 
THE REST OF THE STORY
#6-seed Dalton State (Ga.) ends the season at (24-7 overall) with the loss, while #11-seed St. Mary of-the-Woods (Ind.) improves to (19-7 overall) with the win and advances to the second round where they will play #3-seed Ave Maria (Fla.).
 
For Dalton State, Antonio Lewis led all scorers with 20 points, complemented by seven rebounds. Omarion Smith was a force on the boards, notching a double-double with 13 rebounds and 8 points. Qualen Pettus added 14 points and 8 rebounds, showcasing his all-around impact. Kawasaki Ricks contributed 12 points, including a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line.
 
On the St. Mary-Woods side, Greg Jenkins topped their scoring chart with 18 points and contributed four rebounds. Shon Tupuola dominated inside, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds. Dameriz Merriweather delivered a strong all-around performance, recording 10 points, 13 rebounds, and two assists. Taray Howell provided a spark off the bench with 15 points, hitting two clutch three-pointers.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
  • Final Score: Dalton State 67, St. Mary-Woods 74
  • Field Goal Percentage: Dalton State – 37.7%, St. Mary-Woods – 42.4%
  • Three-Point Percentage: Dalton State – 19.2%, St. Mary-Woods – 27.3%
  • Free-Throw Percentage: Dalton State – 50.0%, St. Mary-Woods – 60.0%
  • Rebounds: Dalton State – 37, St. Mary-Woods – 36
  • Turnovers: Dalton State – 12, St. Mary-Woods – 9
  • Points in the Paint: Dalton State – 38, St. Mary-Woods – 28
Dalton State put forth an admirable effort, utilizing their rebounding and paint dominance to stay competitive throughout the game. However, late-game execution by St. Mary-Woods proved decisive in sealing their victory.

UP NEXT
Dalton State welcomes back a great roster of players that will mix with a new crop of incoming recruits as the Birds look for another national championship.
 
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FIND NEWS AND FOLLOW THE BIRDS: News and updates from Dalton State's men's basketball team is posted on dsroadrunners.com and on X (@DStateBBall), Facebook (@DStateBasketball) and Instagram (dstatebball). Be sure to follow to keep pace with the Birds!
 
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