GAME PREVIEW: No. 17 Walters State, No. 16 Daytona State boast two of the top offenses in the country
HUTCHINSON, KS – When No. 17 Walters State and No. 16 Daytona State face off in the first round of the NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Tournament on Sunday morning, you can expect lots and lots of points.
The Senators enter the game with the third best offense in the country, averaging 96.1 points per game. Meanwhile, Daytona State is second in the country, scoring 97 points per game.
The winner will take on No. 1 Barton Monday at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Here is everything you need to know about Sunday's game:
The Matchup
No. 16 Daytona State (28-3) vs. No. 17 Walters State (28-2), Sunday, 10 a.m. CT
Location: Hutchinson Sports Arena I Hutchinson, KS
Broadcast: ESPN+ ($)
Social Media Updates: @WaltersStSports
How The Teams Got Here
Walters State enters Sunday's game following one of the best regular seasons in program history. The Senators won the TCCAA regular season title and were the No. 1 seed in the TCCAA/Region VII Tournament.
Walters State beat Volunteer State 92-70 in the quarterfinals of the region tournament, Columbia State 76-59 in the semifinals and overcame a 17-point second half deficit in the championship to knock off Chattanooga State 83-79.
In the championship, JR Jacobs had 20 points, five assists and four steals while four others finished in double figures. The win gave the Senators an automatic bid in the NJCAA Tournament.
Meanwhile, Daytona State received an at-large bid to the NJCAA Tournament after falling 113-112 in overtime to Tallahassee Community College in the FCSAA Tournament Quarterfinals.
Daytona State won the Citrus Conference regular season title and were ranked No. 8 in the final NJCAA Poll, going 14-2 in conference play.
Daytona State Players To Watch
No. 10 Josue Grullon (SO) – Grullon leads the team, averaging 20.7 points per game. Grullon shoots 42.6% from the field and 35% from 3-point range. Grullon grabs 6.5 rebounds per game and 3.6 assists. A 6'4", guard. First Team All-Conference.
No. 3 Kylin Green (SO) – Green averages 13.6 points per game, shooting 60.1% from the field. He averages 5.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. A 6'0", guard. First Team All-Conference.
No. 33 Victor Panov (SO) – Panov averages 13.2 points per game and shoots 56.1% from the field. He averages 6.2 rebounds. A 6'7", forward. First Team All-Conference.
Breylin Garcia (13.0) and Isaiah Dorceus (10.2) average double figure points per game. Garcia leads the team, averaging 6.8 rebounds per game and was Second Team All-Conference.
As a team, Daytona State shoots 47.8% from the field and 36.6% from 3-point range. Daytona State has taken 1031 3-pointers in 31 games.
Walters State Players To Watch
No. 0 JR Jacobs – Jacobs leads the country, averaging 8.4 assists per game to go along with 8.5 points and 3.7 rebounds. Jacobs also averages over two steals per game. Second Team All-TCCAA.
No. 22 Ramondo Battle – Battle leads the Senators, averaging 14.4 points per game. Battle pulls in 6.7 rebounds, as well. First Team All-TCCAA member.
No. 2 Micah Simpson – Simpson averages 13.3 points per game and shoots 46.8% from 3-point range. Simpson averages 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals, as well. First Team All-TCCAA member.
Greg Moore (12.1) and Jamar Livingston (11.8) average double figure points per game. Moore shoots 81.7% from the free throw line, while Livingston is 44.2% from 3-point range. Jair Horton is second on the team, averaging 4.9 rebounds per game.
As a team, Walters State average 11 3-pointers per game and shoot 49.6% from the field. The Senators have taken 857 3-pointers in 30 games.
Last Time Walters State Made The NJCAA Tournament
It's been seven years since the Senators last made the NJCAA Tournament.
In 2017, Walters State finished the year 24-8 and lost the TCCAA/Region VII Championship but made the national tournament.
In the first round, the Senators faced Gillette College and took an 83-61 defeat. Malik McConnell led the way for Walters State with 14 points, while Ricky Dunnaway had 12 and Chase Nappier added 10.
Nichols Bringing Third TCCAA School To NJCAA Tournament
When Jerry Nichols' Walters State team takes the floor on Sunday, it will be the third TCCAA school that he has coached in the NJCAA Tournament.
Before coming to Walters State, Nichols coached both Motlow State and Southwest Tennessee. At Motlow, Nichols' team made the tournament during the 2012-13 season and won their first round game over Connors State before falling to Central Florida.
Nichols moved on to Southwest Tennessee following that season and took them to the tournament in the 2015-16 season. Southwest TN won their first game over Spartanburg Methodist and their second game over North Idaho. Southwest TN would fall in the Elite Eight to Salt Lake.
Nichols also reached the NJCAA Tournament twice as a player for Walters State in 2001-02 and 2003-04. He was named to the NJCAA All-Tournament Team both seasons and went 4-4.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics