DALTON, Ga. – No. 25 Life University (11-3) fell short against No. 13 Dalton State (10-3) 82-79 on Saturday in the final game of the Dalton State Classic.
 
"This game was a lot like our game at Stillman," Head Coach Keith Adkins said. "We did some good things and played well enough to win. It came down to one team making a few more plays down the stretch. Once again, though, we will benefit from playing these tough road games once we start Mid-South Conference play."
 
Four Running Eagles registered double digit points in the win. Senior Undra Mitchem paced the squad with 21 points, four rebounds and assist and a block. Junior David Scott followed with 17 points as well as four rebounds and an assist. Senior Zach Landis logged a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in addition to five assists and two steals. Senior Ivan Benkovic contributed 14 points, three rebounds and three assists.
 
The game opened as a back and forth affair with neither team able to get more than a possession lead in the first five minutes. Dalton State lead 8-7, but Life U answered with a 14-2 run to take a 24-10 lead with just over nine minutes left in the half. They pushed the lead out to its largest of the game at 35-20. The Roadrunners battled back, but the Running Eagles took a 38-33 lead in the half.
 
Life U got back to business after the intermission, and pushed the lead back out to 56-47. Once again, though, DSC rallied and retook the lead 63-60 as part of a 9-0 run. They continued to roll and took their largest lead of the game at 68-62. Life U fought back and tied the game at 71 with four and half minutes left. From there things grew very tight and included six lead changes and two more ties. With a lead of 79-78, fouls and made free throws doomed the Running Eagles in the final 16 seconds as the Roadrunners made all four of their attempts and came out with an 82-79 victory.   
 
Life U is back in action on Saturday, Jan. 6 as they travel to Williamsburg, Ky. to open MSC play against Cumberlands.