MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 20 Walters State battled back from a seven-point halftime deficit on Saturday in the Carlyle/Kragel Classic against No. 22 Georgia Highlands but a buzzer-beater found the bottom of the net for the Chargers as they prevailed 69-66 over the Senators.
With the loss, the Senators fell to 0-2 on the season.
Aiden Goins led the way for Walters State in the game with 26 points. However, no other Senators finished in double-figures. Anthony Davis Jr. was the next closest with nine points while Da'Mori Lytch added eight points.
Other scorers for the Senators were Elijah Clinton with seven points, Carter Metz with six points, Charvez Ambrose with six points, Malaki Brooks with two points and Quin'Darius Rumph with two points.
The Senators led 5-2 early thanks to three free throws by Davis, and the two teams traded the lead for the first nine minutes. The Senators got some separation after a Clinton three made it 19-15. It was 22-18 after a three by Metz, but Georgia Highlands grabbed a 23-22 lead with five quick points.
Not deterred, Walters State hit back as Clinton hit two free throws, Goins hit a free throw and Metz drilled a trey to make it 28-23 with 4:40 left in the half.
Unfortunately for the Senators, Georgia Highlands scored 12 in-a-row to take control. Walters State got an and-one by Ambrose with 47 seconds left to cut the advantage, but the Chargers drilled a three at the buzzer to make it 38-31 at the break.
The second half saw Walters State get four points early off free throws from Lytch and Davis Jr. Georgia Highlands scored to make it 41-35, but Walters State answered with a 12-0 run to go up 47-41. During the run, Goins had six points, Davis Jr. had four and Lytch had two.
The Chargers finally broke the run with four points, but Walters State scored four more to go up six. From there, Georgia Highlands scored six straight to tie the game at 53, but Goins converted an and-one to get the lead to three with 7:07 left.
Georgia Highlands cut the Walters State advantage to 59-57, but the Senators got a free throw from Lytch, an and-one from Ambrose, another basket and another free throw by Lytch to get the lead to 66-57 with 3:36 left.
However, Georgia Highlands scored seven straight to cut the lead to two with 1:30 left. Following a missed free throw by Walters State, the Chargers tied the game with a basket. Walters State couldn't score on their final possession, giving Georgia Highlands the ball with five seconds left. The Chargers took the ball out and nailed a three at the horn for the win.
Up Next:
Walters State will be back in action at home on Monday against Union College JV at 7 p.m.
