MORRISTOWN, TN -- After trailing for the majority of the contest Thursday night against Roane State, Walters State climbed all the way into the lead with two minutes to go.
However, it was not enough.
Roane State made big shots down the stretch and the Senators couldn't respond, falling 82-77.
With the loss, Walters State concludes the regular season with a record of 12-5. They were 10-5 in TCCAA play.
"We came out shooting 3-pointers and not making them," Walters State coach Bill Carlyle said. "We just didn't play well. We played terrible defense and couldn't score. When you do that against anybody in this league, you're going to get beat."
The Senators will now be the two seed on the eastern side of the TCCAA tournament which starts next week.
Walters State was led in the game Thursday night by De'Marius Boyd. Battling injuries, Boyd still scored 24 points and led the charge in the second half with 17 points.
Along with Boyd, Destin Barker was all over the glass with 20 rebounds to go along with his eight points while Tylar Haynes and Deovaunta Williams each had 14 points.
As a team, Walters State shot 42% from the field and led the rebounding battle 43-32.
It was Roane State who got off to a quick start in the contest with two 3-pointers. Walters State would respond though with buckets from Williams and Haynes and made it a two-point game. Roane State answered back but so did the Senators as Sly Thompson hit a 3-pointer. The senators would then take the lead 11-10 on two Haynes free throws.
The lead would go back-and-forth from there with Boyd and Gary Smith Jr. making shots for Walters State. Then, it was Boyd taking over as he hit another layup and a 3-pointer to put the Senators out in front by six.
However, Roane State drilled two 3-pointers of their own and then powered ahead by seven points with 2:30 to go in the half. The Senators would weather the storm as Barker made a free throw and Williams converted on a layup, but the Raiders led by four at the break.
In the second half, things started off even worse for Walters State as Roane State quickly built their lead to double digits just three minutes in. While the Senators would try and cut into the lead time and time again from there, Roane State continued to hit timely baskets to push their lead back up. It wasn't until the 7:43 mark that Walters State really got going. First, it was Boyd making a layup. Then, Deng Agoth hit a jumper to make it 63-61 before Barker tied the game up with six minutes to go.
The contest was close from there as the Senators couldn't quite pull ahead until Boyd hit a jumper with 2:17 to go that made it 71-70 in favor of the Senators. Then, after a few free throws made the game 72-72, Roane State converted twice on and-one's that pushed them out in front. Walters State couldn't respond after that, falling in the contest.
UP NEXT:
Walters State will begin TCCAA tournament play on Tuesday as they play host to Cleveland State. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics