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Dalton State College Athletics

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Men's Basketball-Raylen Barrion
75
Life LIFE 17-9, 10-6
81
Winner Dalton State (GA) DALTON S 17-8, 10-5
Life LIFE
17-9, 10-6
75
Final
81
Dalton State (GA) DALTON S
17-8, 10-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Life LIFE 39 31 5 75
Dalton State (GA) DALTON S 27 43 11 81

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

Roadrunners Rally Past Life (Ga.) In OT, 81–75, Behind Danak’s 18 & 19


DALTON, Ga. – Dalton State stormed back from a 14-point first-half deficit and sealed an 81–75 overtime win over Life (Ga.) on Saturday afternoon at Bandy Gym. The Roadrunners improved to 17–8 (10–5 SSAC), while the Running Eagles moved to 17–9 (10–6). Varun Danak powered DS with 18 points and a game-high 19 rebounds, and Qualen Pettus added a team-best 19 points
 
RECAP
FIRST HALF
Life controlled the opening 20 minutes, shooting 51.7% and building a 39–27 halftime lead after pushing the margin to as many as 14 late in the period. Dalton State struggled to 28.1% from the field before the break, though threes from Omarion Smith and Jamori McDougald helped keep the Roadrunners within reach. Shane Stevensen (8 first-half points) and Calvin Payton (10 first-half points) paced Life early.
 
SECOND HALF
Dalton State flipped the script, outscoring Life 43–31 after intermission to erase the 12-point deficit. Smith's mid-range jumper at 17:44 nudged the comeback, and Pettus kept attacking, converting a bucket-and-free-throw sequence to cut it to 47–42 with 11:50 left. McDougald's three at 8:12 pulled DS within 55–51, and a Danak jumper at 7:45 made it 55–53.
 
After Life's Brashon Hall briefly pushed it to 62–53 at 6:19, DS answered with a Pettus jumper (4:03, 63–58) and a Kyoya Sasaki pull-up (3:39, 63–60). Pettus then buried a right-wing three to tie it 63–63 at 3:02, and Danak's mid-range at 2:33 gave the Roadrunners their first lead, 65–63.
 
Sasaki's and-one at 1:58 stretched the advantage to 68–63, and DS led 70–66 after Life free throws and a Danak make inside the final minute. But Stevensen beat the horn with a jumper to tie it 70–70 and force overtime.
 
OVERTIME
Danak struck first with a baseline jumper (4:44), and after a split at the line, he kept the momentum with a two-hand dunk at 2:06 for a 77–73 cushion. Sasaki added a free throw at 1:26 and a dagger lay-up with :42 to make it 80–73, essentially sealing it. Pettus tacked on a late free throw, and after a last-second Life bucket, DS closed out the extra session 11–5 for the 81–75 win.
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Final: Dalton State 81, Life (Ga.) 75
  • Scoring by Period: Dalton State 81, Life 75 (DS 27–43–11; Life 39–31–5).
  • Ties: 5; Lead changes: 5; largest lead—Life 14
Dalton State Leaders: Pettus 19; Danak 18 pts, 19 reb; Smith 14 pts, 7 reb; Sasaki 13; McDougald 13
Life Leaders: Stevensen 25 pts, 10 reb; Hall 13; Payton 12; Baugher 9 pts, 5 reb; Wright 8 reb, 5 ast
  • Team Shooting: DS 28–75 (.373) FG, 8–30 (.267) 3FG, 17–37 (.459) FT; Life 25–62 (.403) FG, 4–24 (.167) 3FG, 21–31 (.677) FT
  • Glass & Hustle: DS +8 rebounds (48–40) with 17 offensive boards; second-chance points DS 13–9; points off turnovers DS 24–13; bench points DS 26–12
  • Paint & Pace: Points in the paint—Life 42, DS 38; fast-break—DS 2, Life 0
  • Game Note: A physical game featured five technicals (Life 2, DS 3)
UP NEXT
Dalton State hits the road for their next game looking to take over 1st place in the East standings as they face Brewton-Parker (Ga.) on Monday, February 16. Tip-Off from Mount Vernon is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
 
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