Senators hold on late for 78-73 win over Motlow State

MORRISTOWN, TN – Walters State went a perfect 6/6 from the free throw line in the final minute on Wednesday against Motlow State, holding on for a 78-73 win. 

With the victory, the Senators improved to 9-6 overall and 4-3 in TCCAA play. 

Aiden Goins was one of five players in double figures for Walters State, finishing with 15 points. Along with Goins, Elijah Clinton hit four 3-pointers and had 14 points while Anthony Davis Jr. had 11 points and Alex Garcia and Da'Mori Lytch finished with 10 points each.

Other scorers for the Senators were Charvez Ambrose with nine points, Carter Metz with five points and Malaki Brooks with four points. 

Motlow led for the first 10 minutes of the game, building a 22-13 lead, but the Senators finally got going with a 16-3 run. Clinton started the run with two 3-pointers, with a Metz basket sandwiched in between them. Goins then hit a three to give Walters State the lead. Motlow took the lead back with a three that made it 25-24, but Goins converted an and-one and Lytch scored to give the Senators a 29-25 advantage. 

Motlow responded with a 5-0 run to tie things back up, but Davis scored and Metz hit a three to give Walters State a 34-30 lead at the half. 

In the second half, the Senators came out quick as Davis hit two free throws, Lytch dunked one home and Ambrose hit a three that made it 41-32. It was 44-35 following a three by Goins, but Motlow cut the lead to three with six straight. Goins stopped the run with a basket, and Davis and Ambrose both scored to increase Walters State's lead to 51-44 with 13 minutes to go.

However, Motlow would not go away and took a 52-51 lead with an 8-0 run. Needing a spark, Clinton gave it to Walters State with back-to-back threes. Garcia then hit a three to get the lead back to eight, and that's where the lead would hover for the next three minutes. 

Motlow then made another push, getting the Senators lead down to 66-64 with four minutes left, but Brooks hit two free throws, Clinton hit a free throw and Goins scored to make it 71-66. Following a Motlow basket, Ambrose hit a free throw to put the lead at four. Motlow scored to make it a 72-70 game with a minute left, but Brooks hit two free throws. The Bucks threw in a three with 15 seconds left, but that was the last time Motlow scored in the game and the Senators made their free throws to grab a 78-73 victory. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Saturday, taking on Jackson State on the road. Tip is set for 4 pm ET.