Jordan Bowling puts up a first half shot for Dalton State. He finished with a double-double, and a game high 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Jordan Bowling had a double-double Friday night as the Dalton State Basketball Roadrunners (10-1, 2-1 SSAC) defeated the Cumberland University University Bulldogs in a defensive struggle, 53-47.
Bowling scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds. Ladaris Green had 15 rebounds on the night, but was held to only two points. Sean Tate scored 12 points for the Roadrunners while Preston Earle added eight points and Anthony Hilliard scored seven.
“When we play our best, I don’t think there is any team that can beat us,” Bowling said after the game.
“But we’ve got to bring it every night. We can’t relax. We will get beat if we relax.”
The 6-6 junior from Somerville, AL said the Roadrunner success story is all about team chemistry. “We’re just a family. We all love each other. We all hang out with each other. We want every player to do well. Tonight I came through, but tomorrow it may be Preston, Ladaris, and Sean. We all love each other and we know we have each other’s back.”
Dalton State scored the first 16 points of the game and led again at 18-2. The Bulldogs (5-9) answered by scoring the next 11 points, but the Roadrunners held a 26-23 lead at the half. Cumberland pulled to within two (32-30) with 15:17 left in the game. Dalton held on for the six point victory.
“JB just had an unbelievable game,” said Roadrunner Coach Tony Ingle. “Our defense was sensational. When you have heart, you don’t always have to have the lead. Our guys just played their hearts out defensively. Cumberland’s scores are always close. Nobody blows them out… and they are good teams.”
“It was just a great team effort. Ladaris had 15 rebounds. Sean Tate is the general. What people sometimes forget is these guys are shooting one-and-one foul shots and making them. It was a great, great win.”
The University of the Cumberlands improved to 11-4 on the season in Friday night’s opening game of the Roadrunners Holiday Classic. The Patriots defeated Concordia from Selma, Alabama, 73-52.
The Dalton State Men’s Basketball Club Holiday Classic resumes Saturday at 2:00 p.m. when Cumberland University (TN) faces Concordia (Al) at Mashburn Arena. Then Dalton State tips-off against the University of the Cumberlands at around 4:00 p.m. EST.
The Roadrunners will have some time off before beginning 2015 by hosting four more home games. The busy schedule begins on Friday, January 2nd. That is when DS hosts SSAC opponent University of Mobile at 7:30 p.m. EST.
Dalton State plays conference foe Belhaven University the following day at Mashburn. Tip-off will be at 5:00 p.m. EST. Life University comes calling on Tuesday, January 6th at 7:30 p.m. and Auburn Montgomery comes calling on Friday, January 9th at 7:30 p.m. EST.