Defensive effort propels No. 19 Walters State to 101-68 win over Volunteer State 

MORRISTOWN, TN – Defense was the name of the game for the No. 19 Walters State men's basketball team on Saturday, and the Senators raced to a 101-68 win over Volunteer State. 

With the victory, the Senators improved to 7-0 on the season and 4-0 in TCCAA play. 

While the offense had its fair share of moments, the defense was what stood out for the Senators. Coming into the game, Volunteer State's Taylor Groves led the conference in scoring, averaging 24.7 points per game. However, Trae Rideau and a host of Senators held Groves without a point on Saturday. 

Offensively, Tyrese Stovall led the way with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Da'Mori Lytch added 18 points and nine rebounds, and Taquez Butler finished with 16 points. Other contributors for Walters State were Carter Webb with 12 points, Jamar Livingston with nine points and five assists, Jayden Nesbitt with nine points, Malaki Brooks with eight points and four assists, Jaquavious Wallace with seven points, Rideau with two points and five assists and Caiden Bauldwin with six rebounds and three assists. 

Walters State scored the first five points of the game, and Stovall made it 9-5 with back-to-back buckets. Livingston then converted an and-one, and Nesbitt scored to make it 14-5. Volunteer State played into the game and cut the lead to 16-15, but Butler hit two three's and scored eight straight to get the lead back to 24-15. Volunteer State broke the run with a basket, but Butler hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 30-17. Butler scored 14 straight points for Walters State during the three-minute stretch. 

From there, Stovall and Nesbitt each scored four more in the half while Brooks, Webb and Wallace all scored to help give Walters State a 49-34 lead at the break. 

In the second half, the Senators came out firing. At 55-29, the Senators went on a 10-0 run to really blow the game open. During the run, Stovall and Lytch had four each, and Livingston also scored to make it 65-39. Two minutes later, Lytch converted an and-one, Stovall scored and Rideau dunked one home to make it 76-48.

Later in the half, Webb got going with five straight to make it 85-60, and Walters State went on a 14-5 run in the final three minutes of the game. Webb had five more points during the run, as did Brooks.

Up Next:

Walters State is back in action on Tuesday and Wednesday, hosting the Carlyle Thanksgiving Classic. The Senators will play Southern Crescent Tech on Tuesday at 6 pm ET and Georgia Highlands on Wednesday at 3 pm ET.