MARIETTA, Ga. — In a high-scoring showdown at the Eagles' Nest, Life University was defeated by Dalton State in their SSAC conference opener 92-69. Despite a decent start in the first half, the Running Eagles struggled to keep pace with Dalton State's offensive explosion in the second half, leading to their first loss of the season.

Life University came out strong, building an early lead behind impressive performances from Cortez Johnson and Tyreke Johnson. Cortez Johnson finished with a double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Tyreke Johnson contributed 14 points, including three shots from beyond the arc. At halftime, the Running Eagles trailed by just 8 points, 48-40, setting up a tight second half.

Dalton State turned up the heat in the final 20 minutes, outscoring Life University 44-29. The Roadrunners' offense was impressive, as stellar ball movement led to 22 assists. The Roadrunner defense also forced 9 turnovers from the Running Eagles as Life U struggled to generate enough offense to keep up with the blazing visitors.

Overall, the Running Eagles connected on just 6 of 26 three-pointers (23.1%), compared to Dalton State's impressive 14 of 31 (45.2%). Individually, Chaze Harris score 15 points and Dara Olonade added another 8 points and 6 rebounds, but the Running Eagles couldn't slow down Dalton State's hot offense. The Roadrunners also controlled the boards, finishing with a 43-35 rebounding advantage and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities with 22 points off offensive rebounds.

Life University moves to 5-1 (0-1 SSAC) on the season, while Dalton State improves to 3-2 (1-0 SSAC). Up next, the Running Eagles will look to bounce back as they prepare to host the University of Mobile this upcoming Saturday in the Eagles' Nest.