Dalton, Ga. – The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team flirted with an upset of No. 23 Dalton State Thursday night here before falling 65-61 to the defending NAIA national champions in a Southern States Athletic Conference contest.

The teams were tied at 61-61 inside the final minute, but the Roadrunners scored the final four points of the game to escape with the victory that snapped a four-game losing streak.

Dominic Early, who led the Mariners (7-16 overall, 3-8 SSAC) with 22 points and 10 rebounds, made the second of two foul shots to tie the score for the fourth time in the game at 61-all with 40 seconds to go, but the Roadrunners (13-7, 5-5) regained the lead on their next possession on a bucket in the paint by Jalen Robinson for a 63-61 lead.

The Mariners committed a costly turnover on their next offensive trip, and thus they were forced to foul, sending Marcel Hawkins to the line for a pair of free throws which he made to all but seal the narrow win for the Roadrunners.

The Mariners did run a play for a three-pointer after a timeout on their last possession in the final seconds, but the long-range shot by Marquice Jones rimmed out just before the final horn sounded.

The Mariners lost despite shooting 47.2 percent (25-53) for the game while the Roadrunners shot 37.9 percent (22-58). Dalton made six three-point attempts to five by the Mariners, but also performed better at the foul line where the Roadrunners were 15-of-21 for the night compared to the 6-of-14 showing by the Mariners.

Early, who remains the league's leading scorer, actually led all scorers with his 22 points which was just over his scoring average for the season. Jones added 11 points in defeat for the Mariners while Jamaal Rhodes also reached double figures with 10 points.

Robinson led the Roadrunners with 16 points and also nine rebounds. Jordan Bowling followed with 15 and Rudy Winters finished with 11.

Coastal Georgia will also be on the road Saturday when it plays at Middle Georgia State. The Knights (9-5, 7-3) defeated Brewton-Parker 92-85 at home on Thursday.