MEMPHIS, TN – Third-seeded Walters State opened up the TCCAA/Region 7 Tournament on Sunday evening with a 76-62 win over sixth-seeded Southwest Tennessee.
With the win, the Senators improved to 20-8 overall. Walters State will play Pellissippi State in the TCCAA/Region 7 Semifinals on Monday at 6 pm CT.
Four Walters State starters finished in double digits with Da'Mori Lytch leading the way with 13 points. Charvez Ambrose, Anthony Davis Jr. and Aiden Goins each finished with 12 points, and Davis had seven rebounds.
Other contributors for Walters State were Malaki Brooks with seven points and four rebounds, Elijah Clinton with six points and five rebounds, Carter Metz with five points and two assists, Stevlen Morris with four points, Nathan Beasley had three points and three rebounds and Alex Garcia with two points and three rebounds.
As a team, the Senators shot 47% from the field and had 34 rebounds. Defensively, the Senators held Southwest to 37.5% from the field and forced 17 turnovers.
Southwest led 5-3 to start things, but the Senators answered with a 13-0 run. Goins hit two 3-pointers to start the rally, with a Davis Jr. basket sandwiched in between. Davis Jr. continued the run with a basket and then, after a free throw by Clinton, Davis Jr. dunked one home to make it 16-5 and force a Saluqis timeout.
The Senators comfortably led from there and, after Southwest cut the lead to seven late in the half, ended the half on a 5-0 run as Beasley hit three free throws, Davis Jr. hit a free throw and Clinton made a free throw that made it 34-22 at the break.
In the second half, Ambrose opened things with an and-one and the Senators upped the lead to 16 following a basket by Lytch. It was 47-30 after a 3-pointer by Ambrose, and Metz hit a trey to make 50-32.
From there, the Senators got the lead to 58-36 after four points by Ambrose and a basket by Morris. Walters State was never threatened after and took the 14-point win. In the final 20 minutes, Ambrose had 12 points while Lytch added seven and Brooks and Davis Jr. had five.