Dalton, GA –
Anthony Eaves and
Jordan Griggs each netted a career high, including recording the final ten UC points, as the 16
th-ranked UC Men's Basketball defeated 15
th-ranked Dalton State in the MSC/SSAC Crossover Saturday afternoon. With the win the Patriots improve to 5-1, while the Roadrunners fall to 2-2.
Dalton State opened the game on a 6-2 run, before Eaves hit a three-pointer followed by a
Jahi Hinson field goal to put UC ahead 7-6 three minutes into the first half. The Roadrunners used a 9-2 run, over a four-minute span, to retake the lead 15-9.
Chance Edwards converted a three-pointer to cut into the deficit as the teams traded buckets making it a six-point game midway through the first half. Dalton State went on a 10-4 run to extend their lead to 32-20 with 5:43 remaining. The Patriots battled back as Hinson hit from long range, while Griggs tallied eight straight points to cut the deficit to 32-31 with 2:28 left in the first half. The Roadrunners ended the half on a 10-2 run to take a 42-34 lead into the break.
Both teams came out of the break strong as the traded baskets over the first five minutes of the second half with Dalton State leading 54-43. Eaves notched eight unanswered points to cut the deficit to 54-51 less than a minute later. Two minutes later, Eaves drained a three-pointer to even the score 58-58, while
Austin Hall and Edwards hit back-to-back three pointers to give Cumberlands its first lead the 15:51 mark in the first half. The Patriots got buckets from Taylor and Eaves coupled with a free throw from Griggs to extend their lead to 70-64 with 6:33 remaining. The Roadrunners went on a 16-8 run to take an 80-78 lead with 25 seconds remaining. On Cumberlands next possession, Eaves hit a long three-pointer, his seventh of the game, to give UC an 81-80, while Griggs added a free throw in the final seconds for the 82-80 final.
Eaves finished the game with a career-high 25 points and seven three-pointers, while Griggs notched a career-high 21 points, including going 8-12 from the charity stripe, and grabbing eight rebounds.
Caleb Taylor and
Hunter Bode finished with four rebounds apiece, while Hinson tallied nine points.
UC returns to action on Friday, November 16, as they host Piedmont International at 7 p.m. in the O. Wayne Rollins Center. Live video of the game will be available
here, while live stats are available
here.
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