SWAINSBORO, GA – Walters State grabbed a six point lead with three minutes to go on Thursday evening against East Georgia State and held on, taking a 78-75 win over the Bobcats.
With the victory, the Senators improved to 6-5 on the season and have won four in a row.
Leading the way for Walters State in the scoring column was Malaki Brooks with 16 points, while Alex Garcia added 13 points. Others in double figures were Da'Mori Lytch with 11 points, Elijah Clinton with 10 points, Anthony Davis Jr. with 10 points and Aiden Goins with 10 points.
Other scorers for Walters State were Charvez Ambrose with five points and Carter Metz with three points.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, as Walters State grabbed a 43-41 lead at the break. In the opening 20 minutes, Garcia had nine points while Clinton hit back-to-back 3-pointers and had six points. Lytch and Davis Jr. also had six points, while Clinton and Goins had five each.
In the second half, it was hard for either team to get in a flow as each team was in the double bonus with 10 minutes to go in the game. Both teams combined to shoot 55 free throws in the final 20 minutes.
The Senators finally got some separation in the game with six minutes to go as Garcia put back in a missed free throw and Davis Jr hit a basket to make it 70-65. East Georgia scored three quick points to get the lead down to two, but Garcia and Davis Jr. both scored again to give Walters State a 74-68 advantage with three minutes to go.
However, the Bobcats made one final push and scored five straight to cut the lead to one with 1:05 left. Brooks got the momentum back on Walters State's side with two free throws, and Davis Jr. grabbed a big defensive rebound on the other end. The Senators then worked the clock down before Ambrose took a three. The trey was off, but Davis Jr. grabbed an offensive rebound and fed the ball to Ambrose who finished at the rim to give Walters State a 78-75 lead with 13 seconds left.
East Georgia had one final chance but a 3-pointer was off, and Walters State collected the rebound to hold on for the win.
Brooks had 11 points in the second half to lead the way.
UP NEXT:
Walters State will be back in action on Friday at East Georgia State, taking on Polk State. Tip is set for 2 pm.