Senators open 2023 with dominating win over Experience Academy

MORRISTOWN, TN – Walters State opened their 2023 schedule on Thursday evening with an emphatic victory over Experience Academy, 119-55.

With the win, Walters State improved to 9-6 on the season. The Senators extended their win streak to five games. 

The 119 points by Walters State are the most points they have scored in a game since Jan. 5, 2022 when they scored 129 against Experience. 

"When we quit for Christmas, I didn't want to because we were playing good basketball at the time. We've come back and, if this is any indication, I was really happy with the way we have come back," Walters State coach Bill Carlyle said. "We had a lot of energy, we played hard and aggressive. That's what it is going to take in the league. All of our guys played well tonight. I am very pleased with their effort." 

All nine players dressed out for Walters State scored in the game with seven of them finishing in double figures. Michael Houge and Elijah Davis each had double-doubles as Houge had 24 points and 14 rebounds while Davis had 16 points and 10 assists. Ty Hurst was close to a triple-double, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Other contributors in the game for Walters State were Jair Horton with 16 points and eight rebounds, Malachi Hale with 13 points and eight rebounds, Wade Pelfrey with 12 points, Jaylen Wharton with 10 points and seven rebounds, Riley Cooper with nine points and Destin Barker with five points and four rebounds. 

As a team, Walters State shot 56% from the field and had 59 rebounds. The defense was strong as well as Experience shot just 28% from the field and had 15 turnovers. 

After a close battle with Experience earlier in the season, Walters State made sure that would not be the case on Thursday with 64 points in the first half. The Senators held Experience to just 25.

In the first half, Davis had 16 points while Hurst had 11 and five assists. Houge added 10 points and five rebounds while Horton was 4-5 from the field with nine points and grabbed four rebounds. 

Walters State shot 63% in the first 20 minutes and were 11-13 from the charity stripe. 

The second half was more of the same for the Senators as they added 55 points. After an offensive outburst in the first half, Davis did not score in the second half but had eight assists and four rebounds. Davis' favorite target was Houge who almost had a double-double in the second half alone with 14 points and nine rebounds. 

Pelfrey knocked down two threes in the second half, as well, while Horton and Hale each had seven. Wharton had eight points and four rebounds. 

The Senators shot 50% in the second half and had just three turnovers. 

Up Next: 

Walters State will be back in action on Sunday as they are set to take on Experience Academy again. Tip is set for 2 p.m. 

Following Sunday's game, the Senators jump back into TCCAA play with a road trip to Chattanooga State on Wednesday. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics