DALTON, Ga. — It was a game of runs but Campbellsville men's basketball ran out of gas at the end against Dalton State College on Tuesday night. The Tigers dropped their second-consecutive game on the road, 66-63.
BOX SCORE
Before the final five minutes, both CU (5-2, 1-1 MSC) and Dalton State handed each other blows like prized fighters battling for the heavyweight belt.
Dalton State (5-2, 2-0 SSAC) started the game on a 7-0 run but Campbellsville quickly answered with an 11-2 run and took its first lead, 11-9. Even though CU wouldn't lead again until 54-53, the Tigers and RoadRunners still went on spurts throughout the game.
Dalton State went on a 13-4 run to take a 24-13 lead. After the RoadRunners went up 33-23, CU held them scoreless in the final 3:24 of the the first half by going on an 8-0 run and putting the halftime deficit at two, 33-31.
CU came out cold in the second half but the Tigers gave themselves a chance at the end. Trailing by 12 points, 50-38, with just over 10 minutes remaining, Campbellsville once again started to punch the top-ranked RoadRunners back with a huge run.
Dominique Harding sparked the Tigers final comeback. He scored six of 11 points in a span of five minutes to get Campbellsville back within a two-point margin, 53-51.
CU would take its first lead since the 15:21 mark in the first half, 54-53, after Zach Perry drained his third 3-pointer of the night, but the lead wouldn't last long.
Dalton State answered quickly, as Jordan Bowling hit his first of two 3s in the final four minutes. After a basket by Ron Scott, Corey McDonald added another RoadRunner triple to give Dalton State a 59-56 lead.
On the next Dalton State possession, the Tigers played spectacular defense for 29 seconds but Bowling delivered the haymaker that did the Tigers in. He hit a fade-away 3 in the right corner and pushed the reigning NAIA champs ahead by six, 63-57 with 1:12 left.
The Tigers started to play the foul game and wanted to make Dalton State win the game from the free throw line – and they did. Neither team shot the ball well, though from the charity stripe – Campbellsville hit 45 percent (5-of-11) while Dalton State hit 52 percent (12-of-23).
Campbellsville was able to cut the lead to as little as two points after an off balanced 3 by Hagen Tyler with four seconds left. But Dalton State's Jamaine Burrey hit 1-of-2 free throws and Campbellsville's ensuing inbounds pass from intercepted to seal the RoadRunner win.
Ron Scott led the Tigers in scoring with 14 points and was followed by Perry's 11 and Sekou Harris' 10. Allen-Jordan scored four points but led CU with 10 rebounds – all from the defensive end of the floor. He and Elliott Young were forced to limited minutes by both being in foul trouble for most of the game. Campbellsville scored 23 bench points in the loss compared to zero for Dalton State.
Campbellsville will stay on the road and travel to the Lindsey Wilson Classic on Friday, Nov. 27 to play Voorhees College at 7 p.m. EST. CU will also play Marygrove on Saturday at 3 p.m. EST at Biggers Sports Complex. Fans can listen to the call on the CU Sports Network, 88.7 The Tiger and www.wlcufm.com.
