Senators fall in TCCAA/Region 7 Semifinals to Pellissippi State

MEMPHIS, TN – Walters State saw their season come to an end on Monday evening, falling 65-62 to Pellissippi State in the TCCAA/Region 7 Tournament.

With the loss, the Senators ended the season with a record of 20-9.

Da'Mori Lytch led the way for Walters State in the game with 17 points and five rebounds, while Malaki Brooks had 10 points and five rebounds. Other contributors for Walters State were Elijah Clinton with eight points and six rebounds, Aiden Goins with eight points, Charvez Ambrose with six points and three rebounds, Anthony Davis Jr. with five points and six rebounds, Carter Metz with four points, Alex Garcia with two points and five rebounds and Nathan Beasley with two points. 

The Senators shot 45% from the field and held Pellissippi State to just 32.7% from the field. 

Walters State jumped out to a 5-2 lead thanks to a 3-pointer by Goins and a Davis basket. The two teams went back-and-forth from there and were tied at 10-10 before Pellissippi scored to take the lead. However, Walters State answered back with a three by Goins that gave them a 13-12 advantage. 

The Senators then led 17-15 after a Davis basket, but the Panthers rallied off nine straight to go up 24-17 with six minutes to go in the half. Walters State got some momentum as Garcia scored, Ambrose hit a free throw and Metz scored to cut it to two. The Panthers scored to break the run, but Ambrose hit another free throw and Beasley had a putback to tie the game at 26. 

Pellissippi hit one more three in the half, but Metz scored with two seconds left to cut it to 29-28 at the break.

In the second half, the Senators came out strong as Lytch converted an and-one to give them the lead. Pellissippi tied it back up, but Ambrose converted an and-one and Davis scored to increase the lead to 36-32. The Panthers rallied off three points after, but Clinton hit a three and Lytch knocked in a free throw to give Walters State a 40-35 lead with 14 minutes to go.

The lead increased to 43-36 after a free throw by Lytch and two by Brooks, but Pellissippi rallied off six straight to cut it to one. The Senators got some momentum back with a three by Clinton, but Pellissippi tied the game at 48 and 50 before taking a 54-50 lead with 2:30 left. 

Walters State responded with a three by Brooks with 2:11 to go, but free throws by Pellissippi got the lead to 58-53. Brooks scored one more time with 1:15 to go to make it a 58-55 game. After a free throw by the Panthers made it 59-55, Lytch made a layup with 30 seconds to go.

The Panthers then made three free throws to make it 62-57, but Lytch dunked one with 14 seconds to go to cut it to three. Pellissippi again split free throws and, after Brooks made a free throw, Lytch grabbed an offensive board and put a shot in with seven seconds left that made it a 63-62 game. 

However, Pellissippi drilled two free throws and a 3-pointer by Walters State was off at the buzzer.