Campbellsville, Ky. – Dalton State Coach Tony Ingle has been warning anyone who would listen that the loss of four of last year’s starters will take some time to overcome.
The defending NAIA National Champions have shown in two games that there is plenty of talent on this year’s team. Down by 18 points at intermission (48-30), Dalton State slowly whittled away at the Campbellsville lead.
Behind by five points (77-73) with 1:01 left in Saturday’s game, the Roadrunners were forced to foul.
The Tigers milked the clock and hit the needed shots from the charity line to win 85-76.
Jordan Bowling scored 23 points and added six rebounds for Dalton State. Marcel Hawkins scored 17 and had nine boards. Jamaine Burrey scored 14 and Corey McDonald nine.
The Roadrunners only hit 38.57% (27-70) from the floor to the Tigers 47.69% (31-65). The big Campbellsville advantages were from beyond the three point line and in rebounding. DS made 4-8 threes to 11-27 for CU. Campbellsville out rebounded Dalton State 42 to 33.
The Roadrunners outscored the Tigers in the second half, 43-37. Dalton State hit 15 of 15 free throw attempts compared to 12 of 18 (66.67%) for the Tigers. The Roadrunner also had 11 steals to Tigers three. Campbellsville’s Sekou Harris had a game high 24 points. He hit six of eight from beyond the arch.
“I am really proud of how hard we played the second half against a very good Campbellsville team,” said DS Coach Tony Ingle. “We are still working on consistency and striving to put two halves together.”
Dalton State (0-2) has some time to work on improvements before traveling to Denmark, SC on Monday, Nov. 9, to play Voorhees.