Montgomery, AL – Dalton State received recognition Wednesday night during the Southern States Athletic Conference basketball banquet at the Camton Bowl Multiplex.
The Roadrunners received their plaque as regular season conference champions. Head Coach Tony Ingle was named the conference Coach of the Year and 6-10 senior Ladaris Green was honored as the SSAC Player of the Year.
Green leads the conference in rebounds per game (11.86), blocks per game (2.28) and double-doubles (10).
He is among the NAIA’s national top five in defensive rebounds per game (1st, 9.21), total rebounds per game (2nd, 11.86), rebounds (2nd, 344), blocks per game (4th, 2.28) and blocks (4th, 66).
Green and senior point guard Sean Tate were named to the SSAC All-Conference first team. Senior Preston Earle and junior Jordan Bowling were named to the All Conference second team.
The Conference Tournament started Wednesday at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex. The conference alternated women’s and men’s games with Faulkner University’s women starting things off by eliminating Coastal Georgia, 67-60.
Belhaven broke open a 40-40 tie in the second women’s game and went on to knock-off William Carey (MS), 55-44. The Belhaven women will play #1 seed Bethel before the Dalton State game.
Tate was named a “Champion of Character.”
Belhaven eliminated Auburn Montgomery in the opening men’s game, 71-63. Belhaven will face No. two seed and NAIA 9th ranked Martin Methodist Thursday at 3:15 p.m. EST, 2:15 CST.
The top seeded and #5 ranked Roadrunners play Brewton-Parker Thursday at 7:15 p.m. EST, 6:15 p.m. CST. Brewton-Parker defeated Blue Mountain 67-62 Wednesday in the first round.
Faulkner and William Carey will complete Thursday night action with a late-night battle that will tip-off no later than 10:45 p.m. EST, 9:45 Central.
Fans should be able to catch live stats and live You Tube video streaming of all tournament games free on the SSAC conference website.
Dalton State Coach Tony Ingle is recognized as SSAC basketball Coach of the Year by Commissioner Mike Hall