Dylan Smith scores for Dalton State
Dalton State basketball captured the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season championship Saturday with a convincing 64-43 win at a packed Mashburn Arena.
A sold out crowd of 2,001 arrived early to honor seven players and a cheerleader for Senior Day and many stayed after the game to celebrate. (6) Dalton State jumped out to a 35-10 lead at the half. Every Roadrunner played and nine scored.
“It’s just incredible,” said Dalton State Coach said of winning the conference championship in the first year of eligibility.
“It’s living a dream. I’m so proud for our team, the administration, the community. This means a lot to a lot of people in town.”
As the regular season champions, the Roadrunners (26-3 overall, 16-2 SSAC) win the top seed for the SSAC Tournament, which begins Wednesday in Montgomery. They are also an automatic qualifier for the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, MO.
Dalton State receives a bye to the quarter-final round of the SSAC Tournament. The first DS game will be Thursday at 6:15 p.m. CST against tournament *8 seed Blue Mountain or #9 seed Brewton-Parker.
“The players deserve it,” said Ingle. “These players came here because they believed in what we were telling them. To not have a chance last year. If any team deserves it, this team does. They give something back to basketball. They give something to the town. They’re getting an education. They are meeting people and making lasting friendships. Everybody talks about sportsmanship. Everybody talks about scholarship. Everybody talks about championships. The beauty of this is a true friendship. The team, the community, we are all in this together.”
Jamaine Burrey scored 14 points. Dylan Smith had 12 points and five rebounds. Anthony Hilliard scored eight, Jordan Bowling seven, and Preston Earle, six.
Dalton State out rebounded Brewton-Parker, 51-39. Both teams were cold shooting. The Roadrunners were 36.7% from the field and only 59.1% from the free throw line. Brewton-Parker was 23% from the floor, including 5.3% from three. They were 70% from the charity stripe.
McKel Miller led the Barons with 10 points.
Saturday NAIA Basketball Results:
(6) Dalton State 64, Brewton-Parker 43
(10) Martin Methodist 73, Blue Mountain 56
RV Bethel 94, William Carey 84
Loyola 78, Belhaven 75 (OT)
Auburn Montgomery 65, Mobile 56
Life (GA) 95, Cumberlands (KY) 84
Roadrunner Coach Tony Ingle wears a Mashburn Arena net after the fans cleared out.