DALTON, Ga. – The Bethel Wildcats concluded their two game conference road swing Saturday afternoon in Dalton, Georgia suffering another heartbreaking loss in the SSAC Game of the Week. After leading much of the second half the Wildcats fell to No. 19 Dalton State 85-84. The loss comes on the heels of their heartbreaking last second loss at Martin Methodist Thursday.
It was the 11th meeting between the two programs with DSU now holding a 6-4 advantage in the series.
Bethel fell to 10-7 overall and 2-4 in SSAC play. The Roadrunners won their eighth straight and are 15-1 and 5-1.
The Wildcats led 31-21 with six minutes left in the first half but the Road Runners outscored the Cats 18-6 to close out the half and led Bethel 39-37 at the break.
Javonte Ellis scored 14 of Bethel's first 21 points of the second half and Bethel led 60-55 with 14:55 left in the game. The Wildcats maintained a lead most of the second half and led 80-73 with three and half minutes left. Bethel failed to close however as DSU staged the late comeback. Sean Cranney's two free throws with 16 seconds left gave the Runners the victory.
Bethel was 25-of-56 from the floor at 44 percent. They hit eight three's and were 26-of-37 from the free throw line. Bethel out rebounded the Runners 33-25. DSU was 29-of-62 at 46 percent. They hit seven three-pointers and were 20-of-28 from the foul line. DSU had a 30-24 advantage in bench points and a 36-28 margin in points in the paint.
Ellis led Bethel with 22 points, 17 of those coming in the second half. Cayden Edmonson had 21 while Charles Cobb had 11 in the loss. Noah Chatman had a game high eight rebounds. Jarred Walker had a game high four assists. Kevon Tucker led DSU with 20 points. Randy Bell had 17 while Cranney finished with 14 points.
The Wildcats return home Tuesday to host Oakwood at 8 p.m. in Crisp Arena. It will be the first of four straight home games for the Wildcats. The Countdown to Tip-off Show begins immediately following the women's game.
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