SENATORS ADVANCE TO ELITE EIGHT BY DEFEATING MIDLAND

Walters State survived and advanced Tuesday afternoon as they defeated the #7 seed Midland College 95-82.  The win improves the Senators' overall record to 32-1, and moves them into the quarterfinals where they will meet the #2 seed in the tournament, Southern Idaho.

The game started out evenly matched as niethe team could build more than a three-point lead.  The Senators finally was able to pull away in the last six minutes of the half to lead 49-41 at the break.  The second half saw the Senators maintain between a six and a ten point lead through the first ten minutes of the final half.  Midland would close the gap to two at 65-63, but Walters responded with a run to lead 75-63 with nine minutes remaining.  Midland would make their run and tie the score at 75 at the five minute mark.  With Walters leading 84-82 with two minutes to play, the Senators would outscore their opponent 11-0 to secure the win.

Walters would connect on 28 of 59 (47.5%) shots from the field which included 13 of 24 (54.2%).  They hit 26 of 32 (81.3%) free throw shots.  They outrebounded Midland 45 to 37, and had 14 steals .  The bench outscored Midland's bench 43-11.

The Senators had four players in double figures led by Jamar Livingston with 19 points.  He was 5 of 11 from the field, hit 4 of 7 from beyond the three-point line.  Taquez Butler and Carter Webb both finished with 17 points.  Butler was also 5 of 11 from the field, 4 of 8 from behind the arc.  Wbb was 4 of 7 from the field, 4 of 6 from distance.  Brian Carter reached double figures with 12 points.

Carter made it a double-double as he led the team with ten rebounds.  Butler, Livingston, and Da'Mori Lytch each had five boards in the game.  Butler, Carter, and Webb each had four assists in the contest while Livingston dished out three in the game.  Butler led the way with six steals, and Jayden Nesbitt finished with three on the day.  Lytch had three blocks and Tyrese Stovall added two in the game.

 Southern Idaho comes into the quarterfinal contest with a 32-2 overall record.  They were the NJCAA Region XVIII Champion.  They defeated New Mexico Junior College in their last game, 73-66.  Today's game is set for a 3:30pm EDT start.