MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 21 Walters State led by seven with 5:25 left on Wednesday night but could not finish things off, falling 86-83 to Roane State. 

With the loss, the Senators fell to 24-2 overall and 15-2 in TCCAA play. 

"I thought we settled for jump shots," Walters State coach Jerry Nichols said. "We just settled. Roane State is a good team and play hard. We didn't play well late, and they deserved to win." 

Ramondo Battle led the way for Walters State with 19 points, while Greg Moore had 18. Other scorers were Micah Simpson with 13, JR Jacobs with nine, Jair Horton with nine, Jamar Livingston with six, Charvez Ambrose with two, Carter Metz with two, Jaylon Taylor with two, Malachi Hale with two and Jaylen Wharton with one. 

It was a phenomenal start to the game for Walters State, as the Senators broke a 2-2 tie with nine straight points. During the run, Horton scored, Simpson hit a three, Battle scored and Jacobs scored to make it 11-2.

Roane State broke the run with a bucket, but Jacobs hit a three to make it 14-4. A Moore three got the lead to 19-8 just six minutes in.

"Early, we just played with emotion," Nichols said. "Unfortunately, the second group came in and we just couldn't maintain it. Things just didn't go right for us. I give Roane State all the credit."

Roane State answered the Walters State early run with nine straight points to cut the lead to one. Horton briefly gave the Senators some momentum with three quick points, and Livingston hit a three to make it 25-17. However, Roane State scored seven straight to tie the game and then took control with a 33-27 lead. 

Roane State would hold that lead until about three minutes left when it was 40-37. Livingston knocked in a free throw for Walters State, and Simpson hit a free throw and a three to give the Senators a 42-40 lead. Roane State answered with a three, but Horton scored to make it 44-43. The Raiders hit one more free throw, and it was 44-44 at the break. 

In the second half, Roane State continued to lead for the first 13 minutes. But Walters State remained close and, with the score 64-63, got their first lead in 10 minutes when Battle scored. Battle then hit two free throws and a three and suddenly the Senators led, 70-64. Roane State stopped Battle's run with a made shot, but Battle hit another three that got the lead to seven. 

Roane State was not phased, though, and scored the next four points. Battle scored again to make it 75-70, but Roane scored the next four points. Moore got the lead back to three two straight possessions with baskets, but Roane State scored seven straight to go up 83-79.

Simpson cut the lead to two with two free throws and, after a Roane State free throw, cut it to one with a layup with five seconds left. Unfortunately for the Senators, Roane State hit two free throws and Walters State's three at the buzzer was off. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Saturday for their final game of the regular season, going to Jackson State. Tip is set for 5 p.m. ET. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics