High-Stakes Clash Set as Undefeated Walters State Meets Midland in NJCAA Second Round

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (Interstat) — A battle of national junior college heavyweights is set for Tuesday when the undefeated Walters State Senators face the Midland Chaparrals in the second round of the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.

Tipoff is scheduled for March 24 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. The winner advances to the tournament quarterfinals.

seed Walters State (24-1) enters as one of the nation’s most dominant teams, riding a 12-game winning streak. The Senators’ lone loss came in early January, and they have since steamrolled competition, winning their last 10 games by an average of 30.5 points. They advanced with a 93-84 victory over South Georgia State on Sunday, led by a balanced attack.

Player to watch for the Senators is guard Taquez Butler, who posted 22 points, six rebounds and six assists in the first-round win. He is complemented by forward Da’Mori Lytch, who had a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) in that contest.

The seed Midland Chaparrals (25-6) present the toughest test Walters State has faced in months. The Chaparrals, champions of the Western Junior College Athletic Conference, are battle-tested but enter off a 72-82 loss to Howard (Texas) on March 14 in their region final. They rely on guard Duane Thompson, who scored 20 points in that defeat and recorded a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) in a narrow win over McLennan on March 12.

Midland’s path has featured several tight victories, including a 74-71 win over McLennan and a 69-68 win over New Mexico. Their ability to execute in close games will be crucial against a Walters State team that has rarely been challenged in the second half of its season.

The matchup pits Walters State’s high-octane offense, which has surpassed 90 points 15 times this season, against a resilient Midland squad accustomed to gritty, defensive contests. The Senators’ pursuit of a perfect season now faces its most significant hurdle on the national stage.