Webb comes up big in No. 10 Walters State’s 93-84 win over No. 23 South Georgia State in NJCAA DI Men’s Basketball Tournament

HUTCHINSON, KS – When No. 10 Walters State needed a bucket, Carter Webb answered the call. 

On Sunday, in the opening round of the NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Tournament against No. 23 South Georgia State, Webb broke a tie game with 10:32 to go with four 3-pointers in three minutes. Thanks to Webb, the Senators advanced with a 93-84 win over the Hawks.

With the victory, the Senators improved to 31-1 on the season. Walters State plays No. 7 Midland on Tuesday in the Sweet Sixteen at 2:30 pm CT. 

Webb finished the game with 17 points and four made 3-pointers, while Taquez Butler finished with 22 points, six rebounds and six assists. 

Along with those two, Da'Mori Lytch recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Brian Carter had 15 points and six rebounds. Other contributors for the Senators were Jamar Livingston with six points and four assists, Malaki Brooks with six points, Tyrese Stovall with five points and five rebounds, Jayden Nesbitt with four points and six rebounds, Trae Rideau with three points and Jaquavious Wallace with two points and three rebounds.   

As a team, Walters State shot 60% from the field and assisted on 23 of 33 made baskets. The Senators outrebounded the Hawks, 42-25. 

Walters State started on fire, as Butler scored five straight and Lytch made two free throws to make it 7-0. South Georgia State got on the board with a free throw, but Butler hit another triple to make it 10-1. South Georgia State cut into the lead with eight straight, but Wallace made a layup and Carter dunked one in to get the lead back to 14-9 seven minutes in. 

The two teams traded buckets for the next few minutes, as Butler hit another trey, and Brooks hit a three with 9:20 left in the half to get the lead to 24-17. The lead was 30-24 after four straight from Webb, and Livingston hit a three to make it 35-25. 

However, South Georgia cut the lead to one with two minutes to go at 37-36. Needing a strong final few minutes, Carter scored six and Lytch scored to make it 45-38 at the break. 

In the second half, Walters State got the lead to eight when Butler scored with 16 minutes to go. Again, the Hawks wouldn't go away and took a 60-58 lead with 12 minutes to go. Livingston tied the game back up with a contested layup, and Webb gave Walters State the lead with a three. Webb then hit another triple 28 seconds later to make it 66-61, and Carter scored four straight to make it 70-65. Following a Butler basket, Webb's third three found the bottom of the net to get the lead to 10. Webb's final three came with 7:20 left, which made it 78-68.

From there, the Senators held on. Butler scored eight points in the final five minutes, while Stovall scored and Lytch and Carter traded buckets.