Dalton, Ga.- The Blue Mountain Christian Toppers faced a challenging Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) road contest on Saturday afternoon, falling 103–68 to the Dalton State Roadrunners. 
From the opening whistle, the Roadrunners imposed their pace and pressure, forcing the Toppers into quick decisions and making it difficult for Blue Mountain to establish offensive consistency.
Dalton State jumped out early with a balanced scoring attack and high-energy defense that disrupted Blue Mountain's offensive flow. 
The Toppers battled to find rhythm and trim the early margin, but Dalton State's efficient shooting — particularly from beyond the arc — allowed the Roadrunners to maintain control throughout the first half. 
Blue Mountain's efforts to slow the tempo were met with Dalton State's ability to score in transition and convert second-chance opportunities.
After halftime, the Toppers showed increased intensity on both ends of the floor.
Esrael Yant provided offensive spark with confident shooting and smart decisions, while Gavin Shannon worked tirelessly on the glass and finished through contact, igniting occasional runs that energized his teammates. 
Kam Carter helped facilitate the offense and create scoring chances for others as the Toppers looked to climb back into the game. 
Each time Blue Mountain showed flashes of momentum, however, the Roadrunners responded with timely baskets and defensive stands to keep the advantage intact.
Yant led Blue Mountain with 17 points, connecting efficiently from the field and hitting three shots from long range while also contributing with three assists. 
Shannon followed with 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds, consistently battling inside. Carter finished with 10 points and five assists, orchestrating the offense and pushing the pace, and Jonathan Baker added 10 points with steady play in the backcourt.
As a team, the Toppers finished shooting 39.4 percent from the field and made eight three-pointers, showing resilience in scoring despite the Roadrunners' defensive pressure.
Toppers will face the Thomas Nighthawks on Thursday night in Blue Mountain.
 
Find us here:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram