Tony Ingle
Dalton State basketball coach Tony Ingle has announced the 2016-2017 Roadrunner schedule with the annual Blue and White Scrimmage tipping things off at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25th, at the Dalton Convention Center’s Mashburn Arena.
Coach Ingle says fans will like what we see this year.
“We worked hard last winter and spring to bring in top notch recruits,” said Ingle. “We had to replace some very key players (third team All-American and 2015 National Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player) as well as Jalen Robinson (honorable mention All-American), and Jamaine Burrey (SSAC Defensive Player of the Year). Obviously, losing those three players to graduation and pro will be difficult to do because they were such good young men and wonderful players. We have brought in two junior college All-Americans, Carnilious Simmons and Isaiah Box, to help fill those vacancies.”
And the 2016-2017 schedule should provide plenty of excitement. “We feel our fans will love the schedule,” said Ingle. “It includes a game with NCAA D1 opponent Jacksonville State University, an early season classic tournament on the road, and some very strong conference rivals. One major key for us is to enjoy working hard and doing what is needed to get the team to come together.”
The Roadrunners then go on the road for four games. The first two will be in the Knights Classic, hosted by Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Ky. Dalton State plays Forest Trails Sports University on Friday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. ET. They then take on the host Knights at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5.
Dalton State will visit Life University in Marietta for a 7 p.m. tip-off on Monday, Nov. 14. They travel to Jacksonville, Al. on Tuesday, Nov. 22 for a 7:30 p.m. exhibition game with Jacksonville State University.
The Roadrunners return home for seven straight home games. The first home games will be in the annual Roadrunner Thanksgiving Classic at Mashburn Arena.
The invitational will be held on Nov. 25 and 26. Johnson & Wales University (Fl.) will play Wilberforce at 6 p.m. on Friday. Dalton State faces Webber International at 8 p.m. on Friday. The Saturday games will feature Webber International and Wilberforce at 2 p.m. followed by Dalton State and Johnson & Wales at 4 p.m.
The first SSAC game will be at 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 when Faulkner University invades Mashburn Arena. The Roadrunners will then host the Roadrunner Classic on Dec. 16 and 17, then host Life University on Dec. 20. Beginning with a Dec. 29 game at Loyola of New Orleans the remainder of the season will be against conference opponents.
The site of two important SSAC home games remains undetermined. A previously scheduled event at Dalton Convention Center has DS left out in the cold for the two February dates. The Roadrunners will host Loyola University on Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and the University of Mobile on Feb. 4. The site of those games will be announced later.