No. 10 Walters State’s season comes to end in NJCAA DI Men’s Basketball Elite Eight

HUTCHINSON, KS – One of the best seasons in Walters State Men's Basketball history came to an end on Wednesday, as the 10th-seeded Senators fell 85-64 to No. 2 College of Southern Idaho in the NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Elite Eight. 

With the loss, the Senators close the season at 32-2. The 32 wins tie the 2007-08 team for the most wins in program history, and the .941 winning percentage is the best in program history. It was Walters State's first trip to the Elite Eight since the NJCAA Tournament expanded to 24 teams. The 2025-26 Senators were TCCAA Regular Season Champions and TCCAA/Region 7 Tournament Champions. 

As a team, Walters State finished the season with six players scoring double-figures. Those players were Jamar Livingston at 12.8 points, Taquez Butler at 12.6 points, Da'Mori Lytch at 12.3 points, Brian Carter at 12.3 points, Carter Webb at 11.6 points and Tyrese Stovall at 10 points. The Senators were top-10 in the NJCAA in eight statistical categories, and Carter finished third in the country in field goal percentage at 73.3%. 

On Wednesday, Butler led the way with 14 points and six rebounds, while Lytch scored 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Brian Carter had 13 points, as well. Other contributors were Malaki Brooks with eight points, Carter Webb with seven points, Jamar Livingston with four points, Tyrese Stovall with three points and Trae Rideau with two points. 

It was a defensive battle to start Wednesday's game, as the Senators and Golden Eagles were tied at two at the 15-minute mark. Walters State took a 5-4 lead on a 3-pointer by Brooks, and Brooks hit another three two minutes later to make it a 12-9 game. The lead continued to change from there, with Lytch tying the game at 19 with an and-one. 

Southern Idaho built a 33-25 lead with three minutes left in the half, but Carter hit a free throw, Lytch hit two and Webb hit two to cut things to 33-30. Carter scored one more time in the half, but the Golden Eagles led 38-32 at the break.

In the second half, Southern Idaho scored the first eight points to take control. Walters State cut things to nine at 48-39 following a three by Butler and basket by Lytch, but the Golden Eagles scored the next six. Webb then hit a three with 11:48 left to get the lead back down to 10, and Livingston hit two free throws with 9:51 remaining that made it 58-50. 

However, Southern Idaho answered every run. Walters State made one final push, cutting the lead to 65-56 with 7:16 to go following a Lytch dunk, but the Golden Eagles scored 20 of the final 28 points to take the win.