21st-ranked Senators start second half quick, advance to TCCAA/Region VII Championship with 76-59 win

TULLAHOMA, TN – Thanks to an explosive start to the second half, No. 21 Walters State advanced to the TCCAA/Region VII Championship with a 76-59 win over Columbia State on Monday afternoon.

With the win, the Senators improved to 27-2 on the season. It's the first TCCAA/Region VII Championship game Walters State has made since the 2016-17 season. 

Jamar Livingston led the way in the game with 19 points and five rebounds, while Ramondo Battle had 18 points and seven rebounds. JR Jacobs was balanced throughout, with eight points, eight assists and five rebounds.

Along with those three, Charvez Ambrose came off the bench and scored 13 points. Other contributors for Walters State were Micah Simpson with seven points and five rebounds, Jair Horton with four points and three rebounds, Jaylen Wharton with three points and two rebounds, Malachi Hale with three points and three rebounds, Chi Shannon with one point and Carter Metz with three assists. 

As a team, Walters State shot 46.2% from the field and were 13-30 from the 3-point line. The Senators assisted on 18 of their 24 made baskets and pulled in 39 rebounds. 

Defensively, Walters State held Columbia State to 35.1% from the field and 1-14 from the 3-point line. The Senators forced 12 turnovers. 

The two teams battled back-and-forth to start, with the Senators leading 9-7. Simpson got the Senators going with a three, and Hale and Ambrose hit back-to-back triples to make it 18-7. Walters State would hold that lead for a while, as Livingston scored five points. The Chargers went on a mini 6-0 run to cut the lead to 23-19, but Shannon knocked in a free throw and Horton scored. 

Columbia again answered and got the lead to three at 26-23, but Ambrose hit two three's in the final three minutes of the half to give the Senators a 33-25 advantage at the break. 

In the second, Walters State came out on fire. Columbia State scored four points in the first three minutes of the half, but Walters State rallied off 15 straight to go up 54-29. During the run, Livingston had a four-point play and an old-fashioned three-point play. Battle, Jacobs and Simpson also scored during that stretch. 

From there, Walters State held a comfortable double-digit lead the rest of the way. Wharton capped the game off with a slam, and the Senators moved on to the Championship.

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Tuesday in the TCCAA/Region VII Championship against Chattanooga State. The Senators won the two regular season matchups against the Tigers. 

Tip is set for 2 p.m. CT at Motlow State. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics