MORRISTOWN, TN – Walters State shrugged off tired legs on Sunday afternoon, getting back in the win column with a 95-80 victory over Dabney S. Lancaster.
With the win, the Senators move to 14-11 on the season and are 11-4 on the season at home.
The game was a quick turnaround for Walters State who played on Saturday afternoon in Dyersburg.
"I thought they (Dabney S. Lancaster) played very well," Walters State coach Bill Carlyle said. "I thought they were smart and moved the basketball well and packed the defense. I was impressed with what they did.
"We went to Dyersburg yesterday and had a seven-hour bus drive back and just weren't ready to play. We're just struggling right now. But at this stage, I will take a win. We just have to get back to it. We looked worn out today."
Walters State was led in the game by Riley Cooper with 21 points. Cooper had 13 points in the second half.
Along with him, Destin Barker had his best game of the season with 20 points. Barker had 17 in the second half, including some timely 3-pointers down the stretch that sealed the win for the Senators.
Other scorers in the game for Walters State were Deng Akok with nine, Josh Jerome and Ty Hurst each with eight, Izaiha Bredwood with seven, Brandon Kabuya and Deovaunta Williams with six, Ijesuoefe Iyamu and Jared Carter each with four and Kawika Makua with two.
Dabney S. Lancaster made 12 3-pointers in the game with Jaylen Hudson leading the way with 31 points.
Walters State looked ready to play early on as the Senators scored the first seven points of the game off a Williams basket, Jerome basket and Hurst and-one.
Barker would knock down a 3-pointer next to make it 10-5, but Dabney responded and took a 15-12 lead. Needing a spark, the Senators got it in the form of Akok. After Carter and Kabuya both scored, Akok knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to make it a seven-point game.
From there, both teams battled as Dabney got the lead down to one before Akok hit his third three of the half. Walters State grew the lead back to seven at 35-28 before Dabney ended the half on a run to make it 44-41 at the break in favor of the Senators.
In the second half, the Senators kept trying to pull away as Cooper and Barker took things over. Cooper scored four straight to make it 53-44 before a Dabney run cut it back to two.
With the score 58-56, Barker and Kabuya both slammed home dunks off turnovers to seemingly calm things down. However, Dabney responded again and it was a one-point game.
Jerome and Barker stopped the bleeding with two free throws each before Barker hit a 3-pointer to extend the lead further. Dabney cut it to two on the next possession, but Barker knocked home another 3-pointer.
That set off a run by Cooper who got the lead to 10 with six straight points. From there, the Senators held on as Cooper and Jerome capped things off with slam dunks.
Up Next:
Walters State will be back in action at home on Wednesday, taking on Cleveland State. Tip is set 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