WALTERS WINS OVER DAYTONA STATE IN FIRST ROUND; TO FACE #1 BARTON MONDAY

Walters State was able to hold on in the first round of the Division I Men's Basketball Tournament as the #17 seed Senators defeated the Falcons of Daytona State by an 85-82 final.  With the win, the Senators will move on to the Round of 16 where they will face the #1 seed in the tournament, the Cougars of Barton Community College (KS).

The first half saw both teams start off slow before Daytona would take their largest lead of the first half at 15-7 with just over 13 minutes to play in the first twenty minutes.  Waalters would go on a 20- 5 run in the next five minutes to go ahead 27-20.  They would build a lead as high as 11 with 5:45 to go in the half before Daytona would close on a 17-5 run of their own to take a 42-41 lead at the half.  Ramondo Battle would have 14 points by the break to lead the Senators. 

Walters came out of the lockerroom and slowly built a lead with solid defense and making key shots.  They would build a nine point lead early only to see the Falcons climb back into the contest.  The Senators were relntless and built the lead back to ten, 79-69, with 4:14 left to play.  Daytona would not go away and fought back to make the contest close at the end.  The Falcons had a chance, but a steal by Micah Simpson stopped the threat.

Battle would continue his scorring in the second half to have a game high 26 points to lead a quartet of Senators in double digits.  Jamar Livingston would drop in 13 points while Jair Hporton had 12 points to go with a team high eight rebounds.  Terrance"JR' Jacobs would also throw in 12 points to go with a team high 7 assists and three steals.  Simpson would have nine points while matching Jaobs with three steals and being second on the team in rebounds with seven.