Preview: Walters State Set for Rematch With Southern Crescent

MORROW, Ga. (Interstat) — A stark contrast in trajectories will be on display Saturday when the unbeaten and top-ranked Walters State Senators visit the struggling Southern Crescent Tigers in a men’s junior college basketball game.

The Senators (8-0), who have dominated every opponent this season by an average margin of 41.6 points, face a Tigers squad (0-4) still searching for its first win. The teams met just over two weeks ago in Morristown, Tenn., with Walters State delivering a 139-67 rout on Nov. 25.

Walters State is coming off a 91-65 road victory over Dyersburg State on Dec. 6, led by guard Taquez Butler’s 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. Butler has been a consistent force, averaging 15.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game. He recorded a near triple-double with 11 points, five rebounds and 12 assists in the first meeting against Southern Crescent.

The Tigers have not played since that lopsided loss to the Senators, a game in which Walters State’s Jordan Edwards scored 25 points. Southern Crescent’s season has been defined by tough outings, including a 106-60 loss to Daytona State on Nov. 15.

Despite the historical data, Interstat’s game simulator projects a highly improbable 100-100 tie for this contest, a forecast that contradicts the Senators’ season-long dominance and the previous head-to-head result.

Walters State’s offense has been relentless, scoring no fewer than 91 points and surpassing 100 points four times. Southern Crescent has allowed an average of 102.5 points per game.

The Senators will look to maintain their perfect record before a quick turnaround, as they are scheduled to face Southern Crescent again on Thursday, Dec. 18, in the second leg of this home-and-home series. The Tigers aim to find defensive answers and pull off what would be a monumental upset against the nation’s top-ranked junior college team.

Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon at Southern Crescent’s home court.