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Dalton State College Athletics

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Men's Basketball-Kyoya Sasaki
85
Winner Loyola LOYOLA 16-5, 8-3
77
Dalton State (GA) DALTON S 12-8, 6-5
Winner
Loyola LOYOLA
16-5, 8-3
85
Final
77
Dalton State (GA) DALTON S
12-8, 6-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Loyola LOYOLA 34 51 85
Dalton State (GA) DALTON S 31 46 77

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

Roadrunners’ Late Push Comes Up Short vs. Loyola, 85–77


DALTON, Ga. – Dalton State battled to the horn but couldn't overcome a hot-shooting second half from Loyola (La.), falling 85–77 at Bandy Gym in Dalton on Thursday night. The Roadrunners move to 12–8 (6–5), while Loyola La.) improves to 16–5 (8–3).
 
RECAP
FIRST HALF
Dalton State set the tone early with defense turning into offense, forcing turnovers and grabbing a 3–0 edge out of the gate before a back-and-forth half settled into a 34–31 Loyola lead at the break.

Omarion Smith anchored the Roadrunners with 8 points, 8 rebounds, and a first-half dunk, while Qualen Pettus added 6 points and Varun Danak chipped in 5 to keep DS within one possession for much of the period.

Loyola leaned on perimeter shot-making and balance, led at the half by Leonard Jackson and Zachary Lee with 9 points apiece, to take the three-point advantage into the locker room.
 
SECOND HALF
After Raylan Barrion opened the half with a jumper to make it 34–33, Loyola answered with a Cameron Williams three and a series of mid-range makes to push ahead 39–33, prompting an early Dalton State timeout.

Kameron Johnson caught fire, burying threes at 10:19 and 9:52, and the Wolf Pack built their largest lead at 13 inside the final five minutes.

Dalton State kept swinging, Ja'Ron Briggs scored through contact, Pettus drilled a right-wing three at 2:13, and Kyoya Sasaki splashed a deep ball with 23 seconds left to cut it to 81–77, but Loyola closed it out at the stripe.
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
  • Final: Dalton State (Ga.) 77, Loyola (La.) 85
  • Omarion Smith — Double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds (8 offensive), plus a block and a steal
  • Ja'Ron Briggs — 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals, including key fourth-quarter buckets that fueled the late surge
  • Qualen Pettus — 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block, including two second-half threes
  • Varun Danak — 11 points, 6 rebounds; Raylan Barrion added 11 points and 4 assists
Team Numbers
  • Shooting: DS 27–75 (36.0%) FG; 3–21 (14.3%) 3FG; 20–35 (57.1%) FT. Loyola 46.3% FG, 44.4% 3FG, 77.1% FT
  • Glass: DS +4 (37–33) on the boards, fueled by 17 offensive rebounds and 16 second-chance points
  • Turnover Game: DS committed just 5 turnovers and turned 16 Loyola giveaways into 21 points (Loyola 4 points off turnovers)
  • Paint/Bench: DS 44 points in the paint to Loyola's 30; Loyola's bench outscored DS 21–13
  • Game Flow: Ties (2) and lead changes (3); Loyola's largest lead 13 (2nd half, 4:50), DS largest 3 (first three minutes). Final: Loyola 85, DS 77
UP NEXT
Dalton State remains at home for their next matchup when they host #19 William Carey (Miss.) on Saturday, January 31. Tip-Off at Bandy Gym is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
 
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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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