EMMIE BOESE
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The first win of the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Tournament belongs to No. 17 seed Walters State. The Senators beat the No. 16 seeded Daytona State Falcons 85-82.
Four players from Walters State scored in double figures. Sophomore forward Ramondo Battle led the Senators with 26 points. Battle scored 14 in the first. Freshman guard Terrance Jacobs scored 12 points and dished out seven assists.
Sophomore guard Kylin Green scored 17 points. for Daytona State. Sophomore guard Josue Grullon had 16 points.
Walters and Daytona were tied up 39-39 with a little over 1:30 remaining in the first. Dayton led 42-41 at halftime.
Battle picked up his third foul six minutes into the second half. He picked up another late in the second. Six other players from Walters roster also got into foul trouble.
Daytona State led 66-65 with eight minutes left in the game. Despite being in foul trouble, Walters State took back the lead and gained momentum for a 10 point lead (79-69) with a little over four minutes to go.
Walter's Jaylen Wharton fouled out late in the second half. Daytona made it a 3-point game with 27.5 seconds left on the clock but ultimately came up short.
Walters State will play No.1 seed Barton County tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. Glen Grunwald and Rob Dreher will have the play-by-play on KWBW 1450 AM/98.5 FM.