DYERSBURG, TN – Walters State cut a 16-point lead with five minutes ago to three on Saturday against Dyersburg State but it was too little, too late as the Senators fell 76-73.

With the loss, Walters State falls to 2-3 on the season and 0-1 in TCCAA play.

Michael Houge and Micah Simpson led the way for the Senators in the game with 19 points each. Houge was 7-11 from the field with nine rebounds while Simpson hit six 3-pointers and had three steals. Elijah Davis was right behind Simpson and Houge with 18 points, six assists, four rebounds and four steals. 

Other scoring in the game for Walters State included Bakari Johnson and Ty Hurst with six, Destin Barker with three and Jay Hickman with two. Hurst and Barker each had six rebounds while Hurst had four assists, as well. 

The Senators shot 44% from the field in the game and had 32 rebounds and 14 assists. 

Walters State got off to a quick start as Houge, Hickman and Davis all made layups to put the Senators ahead 6-3. Dyersburg reeled off the next four points to take the lead, but Houge hit a jumper and a layup to take it right back at 10-7. 

The lead grew to five from there as Simpson drilled his first 3-pointer. His second quickly followed and it was 16-8, forcing a Dyersburg timeout. Walters State would stay in control for awhile, but Dyersburg tied the game at 23 with seven minutes left in the half. 

The Eagles then took the lead on a 3-pointer and a layup. Barker stopped the bleeding with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 28-26 before Hurst tied the game with a jumper. Unfortunately for Walters State, Dyersburg got their lead all the way to seven right before the half. A Simpson 3-pointer with 11 seconds left ended the half with Dyersburg up, 40-36. 

In the second half, Dyersburg came out hot to start and made it 50-40 seven minutes in. Houge hit a layup and was fouled, making the free throw to end the drought, but the Eagles quickly went up by 12. 

Seemingly in control, up 16 with 4:45 to go, Dyersburg let their foot off the gas, and Walters State took advantage. It started with a jumper by Hurst and then two Houge free throws that made it 66-54. Two more free throws by Davis cut the lead to 10. The lead would hover there for a few minutes, but Simpson hit a 3-pointer with 1:38 left and Hurst made a layup that made it 72-66. 

A free throw pushed the Dyersburg lead back to seven, but Davis hit a layup to make it a five-point game. Dyersburg made two more free throws before Davis hit two to cancel them out. An Eagle free throw with six seconds left made it a six-point game. Simpson hit a 3-pointer with four seconds left to make it 76-73 but that was as close as they would get. 

Up Next: 

Walters State will be back in action on Wednesday as they travel to take on Cleveland State. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics