No. 20 Walters State drops season-opening game to East Georgia State

MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 20 Walters State led by 15 points at halftime but could not finish the job, falling 84-81 to East Georgia State on Friday evening in the Carlyle/Kragel Classic.

With the loss, the Senators dropped to 0-1 overall.

The Senators were led in the game by Malaki Brooks' 18 points. However, East Georgia's Jaylen Harris scored 35 points, 31 in the second half. 

"East Georgia played hard," Walters State coach Jerry Nichols said. "They're a dangerous team going five guards like they did in the second half. We didn't do a good job at things, like playing tough. First half, we did some good things. Second half, we didn't guard at all. (Jaylen Harris) was incredible for them. They deserved to win the game. This is a new group, but hopefully we can figure it out. If we can figure it out, we can be a really good team. But we've got a lot of work to do to get there." 

Along with Brooks, Charvez Ambrose had 16 points while Da'Mori Lytch had 12 points. Other scorers were Aiden Goins with 11 points, Carter Metz with eight points, Anthony Davis Jr. with six points, Alex Garcia with six points, Elijah Clinton with two points and Jaceion Coffey with two points. 

The Senators got off to a great start, up 11-4 after five straight from Brooks. It was 15-6 after a bucket from Garcia and 21-6 after three free throws by Metz. Ambrose kept things going with a three and four straight by Davis Jr made it 30-14. East Georgia cut the lead with a three, but Goins scored again to make it 32-17.

Walters State continued to lead comfortably in the final five minutes of the half and a three by Ambrose and two free throws by Brooks gave Walters State a 42-27 advantage at the break.

However, East Georgia opened the second half hot and cut the lead to two just six minutes in. Metz calmed things with a three that made it 51-46, but East Georgia scored six straight to take their first lead of the game. 

The lead was short-lived though, as Goins scored and Ambrose and Lytch both hit two free throws to give the Senators a 57-52 advantage. East Georgia scored seven straight to take the lead back and led 63-61 with seven minutes to go.

Brooks gave the Senators the lead back with a three, but East Georgia went up 66-64 on free throws. Following ties at 68 and 70, the Senators went up 75-72 on five points from Brooks. A three by Garcia made it 78-74 with 1:25 to go, and it was 79-76 after a free throw from Garcia with 1:03 left. 

However, East Georgia tied the game with a three. Walters State took one more lead on two Brooks free throws, but East Georgia scored the final five points to win the game. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Saturday for the final game of the Carlyle/Kragel Classic. Walters State will play No. 22 Georgia Highlands at 6 p.m.