Montgomery, Ala. — William Carey’s bid for an SSAC Tournament championship ended Saturday night with a 90-87 loss to Dalton State College at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. Head coach Steve Knight said the team battled until the final buzzer but struggled to get key defensive stops in the second half.
Dalton State shot 60% in the second half, compared to Carey’s 37%, according to the school. Knight noted that the Roadrunners made crucial plays down the stretch and that Carey’s transition offense was limited by a lack of steals.
The game started strongly for Carey, with Jamar Jenkins and Makeem Roberts leading an early 6-2 lead. Dalton State responded with a 15-1 run, pushing ahead 17-7 with just under 14 minutes remaining in the first half. Carey clawed back, with Malik Franklin and Arzika Seibou hitting key shots to narrow the gap to 19–16.
The Roadrunners extended their lead to 30–23 before Carey rallied again. Jenkins, Javeon Gordon, and Franklin fueled a 9–2 run, giving the Crusaders a 34–32 lead with four minutes left in the half. Dalton State finished strong, taking a 39–38 lead into halftime. Roberts scored just before the break to give Carey a 40–39 edge.
The second half saw an early burst from Anthony Robinson, but Dalton State quickly regained the lead. The game became a back-and-forth battle with multiple ties and lead changes. Kelley’s three-pointer put the Roadrunners ahead 62–55 midway through the half, and they extended the margin to 70–60 with eight minutes remaining.
Carey mounted a comeback, with a 16–6 run highlighted by nine free throws, tying the game at 76–76 with four minutes left. Dalton State’s Raylan Barrion responded with a three-point play to push the Roadrunners ahead 81–78. The teams exchanged baskets before Robinson made free throws to cut the deficit to 86–84 with seconds remaining.
Dalton State secured the win with a late basket after a Carey turnover. Roberts hit a deep three at the final buzzer, but Dalton State made one of two free throws to seal the victory. Carey’s season continues with the NAIA National Tournament, beginning March 13. The team will learn its opponent and location Thursday during the NAIA selection show, streamed live at 6 p.m. on YouTube.
