MORRISTOWN, TN – Malachi Hale and Jair Horton combined for 44 points on Thursday evening as Walters State cruised past Milligan College JV, 117-54.

With the win, Walters State improved to 14-7 overall.

Hale finished the game for the Senators with 25 points on 11-14 shooting and collected seven rebounds. Horton came off the bench and scored 19 points, adding six rebounds. 

Along with Hale and Horton, Michael Houge finished with his seventh straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. 

Other contributors for Walters State were Riley Cooper with 12 points and four steals, Micah Simpson with 11 points, Destin Barker with nine points and eight rebounds, Ty Hurst with eight points and seven rebounds, Jaylen Wharton with seven points and four rebounds, Wade Pelfrey with six points and five assists, Saevion Brown with four points and Elijah Davis with three points and five assists. 

As a team, Walters State shot 60% from the field in the game and had 50 rebounds and 33 assists. Defensively, Walters State held Milligan to 35% from the field and forced 23 turnovers. 

It was all Hale in the first half for Walters State as he scored 13 points in the opening 20 minutes. Houge, Simpson, Cooper and Horton each added six points. The Senators shot 56% from the field in the half and led 52-26. 

In the second half, Walters State continued to pour it on with 65 more points. Horton had 13 points in the half, going 3-3 from the 3-point line, while Hale had 12 points. Houge added seven more while Hurst and Cooper each scored six.

In the second half, Walters State shot 64% from the field and a perfect 6-6 from free-throw line. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Saturday as they host Dyersburg State. Tip is set for 4 p.m. and the game is a part of Walters State's annual Alumni Day. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics