Butler stars in No. 17 Walters State’s 99-63 win over Georgia Highlands

MORRISTOWN, TN – Taquez Butler has proven through the first nine games of the season what an asset he can be for the No. 17 Walters State men's basketball team.

On Wednesday, taking on Georgia Highlands in the Carlyle Thanksgiving Classic, Butler hit five 3-pointers and got to the rim with ease, leading the Senators to a 99-63 win over the Highlanders.

With the victory, the Senators improved to 9-0 on the season.

Butler led the charge for Walters State with 23 points, 10 coming in the first half and 13 coming in the final 20 minutes. Butler is now averaging 13.4 points per game on the season.

Along with Butler, Jamar Livingston capped off a strong Thanksgiving Classic with 16 points. Walters State had four more in double figures as Malaki Brooks, Carter Webb, Jayden Nesbitt and Tyrese Stovall each finished with 10 points.

Other contributors for Walters State were Da'Mori Lytch with eight points, Trae Rideau with eight points, Jaquavious Wallace with two points and Caiden Bauldwin with two points. 

The Senators started the game on fire, scoring the first 11 points. Butler had seven of those points, while Lytch and Nesbitt had the other four. Georgia Highlands got on the board with a 2-pointer, but Nesbitt scored again and Livingston hit a three to make it 16-2.

Stovall converted an and-one two minutes later for Walters State, and Butler hit his second 3-pointer of the game that made it 22-7 with 14:22 left in the half. Brooks hit a three of his own to give Walters State a 27-10 advantage, and it was 35-15 following a three from Livingston and three points from Stovall. 

From there, Walters State got four points from both Livingston and Webb in the final five minutes of the half, and Brooks hit a 3-pointer that made it 48-26 at the break.

In the second half, Rideau opened things with a layup, and Livingston converted an and-one. Georgia Highlands cut the lead to 59-36 with an 8-0 run, but Brooks and Stovall scored and Webb buried a triple to give the Senators some momentum. Following four points from Rideau that made it 72-49, Walters State went on an 8-0 run thanks to a Nesbitt basket and back-to-back treys by Livingston and Webb. 

The Highlanders made one final push with five straight points, but Butler had eight points in a two-minute span to make it a 92-59 game with 3:20 to go. The Senators cruised from there and took the win. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action next Wednesday, hosting Chattanooga State. Tip is set for 7:30 pm ET.