SPARTANBURG, SC – Walters State built an 11-point halftime lead on Saturday against Spartanburg Methodist and held on, taking an 81-77 win.

With the victory, Walters State improved to 9-0 on the season. 

Leading the way for the Senators on Saturday was Ramondo Battle with 23 points. Battle knocked in four 3-pointers, shot 7-14 from the field and was 5-6 from the free throw line. Battle also had six rebounds. 

Along with Battle, JR Jacobs had his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 assists. Other contributors were Jamar Livingston with 12 points and four steals, Micah Simpson with 10 points and four rebounds, Greg Moore with 12 points and three rebounds, Charvez Ambrose with six points, Jaylen Wharton with three points, Jair Horton with two points and Carter Metz with one point. 

As a team, the Senators shot 51% from the field and 43% from 3-point range. Walters State assisted on 23-of-27 made baskets. 

The Senators started quick as Simpson hit a 3-pointer, Battle scored and Livingston hit a three to give Walters State an early 8-2 lead. The lead grew to 14-5 two minutes later as Livingston hit another three and then to 17-5 when Battle knocked home a three.

Spartanburg responded with an 8-3 run to make it 20-13, but Moore scored and Ambrose drilled a trey to get the lead back to 12. From there, Walters State built their lead to 15 as Simpson knocked in his second three of the game and then to 18 as Battle knocked in another three. 

The final six minutes of the half were a lot of the same, and Walters State led 40-29 at the break. Battle had 10 points in the opening 20 minutes, while Livingston had nine points. 

In the second half, Jacobs hit a 3-pointer to start but Spartanburg Methodist slowly began chipping away and had the lead down to 50-48 with 11 minutes remaining. Battle finally broke the run with a 3-pointer and Moore converted an and-one to give the Senators some breathing room. 

The lead hovered at six from there until Livingston made it 62-52 with an and-one. Spartanburg Methodist continued to hang around though, cutting the lead to two with six minutes to go. Jacobs scored  and Simpson hit a free throw to make it 68-63, but Spartanburg answered with a three to cut it to two again with three minutes left.

The Pioneers finally took their first lead with 2:55 to go on a three that made it 69-68, but Wharton hit a jumper 15 seconds later and was fouled, making the free throw to give the Senators a 71-69 advantage. The two teams tied at 71 and 73 after, but Battled knocked down a clutch 3-pointer with a little over a minute left to give the Senators a 76-73 lead. Spartanburg scored following a timeout, but Moore knocked in a three with 24 seconds to go to make it 79-75. Spartanburg Methodist scored one more time to cut the lead to two, but Moore made two free throws to ice the game. 

Battle had 13 more points in the second half, while Jacobs had seven points and six assists. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action at home on Wednesday as they host Moc Valley Prep. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m.

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics