Warriors set to close out regular season hosting River Hawks

Title contenders Dalton State looking to end season strong going into playoffs

DALTON, Ga. - The No. 1-ranked Dalton State Warriors will host the Point University Skyhawks in their final regular season game of the 2023 season on Saturday at Lakeshore Park.

The Warriors (15-2, 10-0 SSAC) have already clinched the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season championship and the top seed in the SSAC Tournament and enter the game on a 10-game winning streak.

Point looking to secure top SSAC tournament position

The Skyhawks (9-7, 6-4 SSAC) are currently in third place in the SSAC standings and need a win to secure a top-four seed in the tournament.

Point has won three of its last four games, including a 78-73 win over No. 2-ranked Campbellsville University on Feb. 18.

Matchup to watch: Dalton State's high-powered offense vs. Point's stingy defense

The Warriors lead the SSAC in scoring, averaging 92.5 points per game, while the Skyhawks are third in the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 68.7 points per game.

Dalton State is led by senior guard Sharife Cooper, who is averaging 22.5 points, 8.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Point is led by senior guard Jalen Benjamin, who is averaging 16.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

Prediction: Dalton State 88, Point 75

The Warriors are the clear favorites in this matchup, but the Skyhawks have shown that they can be a tough opponent, especially at home.

However, Dalton State is simply too talented and too deep for Point to overcome.

The Warriors should win this game comfortably and finish the regular season with a perfect 11-0 record in SSAC play.