Ricky Sears shoots a three from the corner in the first half of Dalton State;s 73-50 homecoming win over Allen University
photo by Bob Beavers
Dalton State’s basketball Roadrunners (22-3) jumped out to a 15-point lead en route to a 73-50 win at home over Allen University.
A homecoming crowd of 1,684 was on hand at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center as DS went on to a 24 point lead (47-23) with 1:17 left in the half. At the break, the Roadrunners were on top, 49-28.
“The Roadrunners came ready to play and bounce back from our Thursday night performance,” said Dalton State coach Tony Ingle. “We gave our fans a better show worthy of their loyal support. We really wanted to give our homecoming crowd a victory.”
Dalton started strong after intermission, building two 27-point leads (64-37 at 11:21 and 66-39 at 10:28), but only scored 24 points in the final 20 half.
“This was a very solid performance from our top seven players, but once we started substituting I felt our bench was not as sharp,” Ingle said.
“The lead generated by our starters gave us a look at some players that typically do not get as many minutes,” the coach added. “As we face a four game road swing, we are going to need more positive production out of our bench.
“It was awesome seeing Sean Tate and LaDaris Green playing with more intensity on defense,” said Ingle. “I felt that got the rest of the team competing.”
Ricky Sears and Anthony Hilliard each scored 13 Roadrunner points in limited play. Sean Tate scored nine; Demetrice Jacobs, eight; Preston Earle, seven; and Tyrel Edwards, six.
Ladaris Green tossed in four points and had 10 rebounds in only 14 minutes and 11 seconds of playing time; Erich Allen had four points and seven rebounds while playing 13:39.
Desmond Phillips scored three. Nathan Terry, Galen Smith, and Monolito Hamilton each added two points; and Dylan Smith and Raheem Mosley played but didn’t score.
The Roadrunners out rebounded the Yellow Jackets 58 to 40. Dalton State hit 17-28 from the free throw line (60.7%) to Allen’s 10-20 (50%).
Dalton State shot 54.55% from the field (18-33) in the potent first half, but dropped to 6-34 after the break (12.65%). Fortunately for the Roadrunners, Allen hit on a mere 8 of 44 shots from the field in the second half. They missed all 10 second-half three-point attempts.
The Yellow Jackets were led by Deangelo Anthony with a game high 23 points and Derrick Mccord with 17.
Dalton State has some time to prepare for the final five games of the season with four of those on the road.
The Roadrunners travel to Montgomery, Al to play Faulkner University on February 13. They then come back to Marietta to meet Southern Polytechnic University on February 15.
They pack the Silver Bullet for a trip back to Montgomery to meet Auburn Montgomery on February 20, then finish the road part of the season February 22 in Brunswick against College of Coastal Georgia.
Senior night marks the lone remaining home game for the birds. They host Tennessee Temple at 7:00 p.m. on February 25. Ricky Sears, Demetrice Jacobs, and Desmond Phillips will play their final game in a Roadrunner uniform.
NAIA Saturday Action
#3 Pikeville (KY) tamed Life University (GA), 119-106
#11 Emmanuel (GA) handled Faulkner University, 71-52
Southern Polytechnic University defeated Brewton-Parker, 85-70
Coastal Georgia pounded Southern Wesleyan (SC), 91-72
#5 William Carey (MS) crushed Belhaven University (MS), 90-70
#24 Martin Methodist (TN) downed Spring Hill (Al), 71-67
Bethel (TN) over Loyola (La), 82-74
Byran (TN escaped Reinhardt University (GA), 74-72
Mobile (Al.) clipped Blue Mountain (MS), 73-71
Voorhees (SC) got by Fisk (TN), 80-76
Campbellsville (KY) downed Cumberland (TN), 72-59
Point (GA), defeated Truett-McConnell, 65-60
Union (KY) over Tennessee Wesleyan, 88-74