No. 10 Walters State set to play No. 7 Midland in NJCAA DI Men’s Basketball Sweet Sixteen

No. 10 Walters State set to play No. 7 Midland in NJCAA DI Men’s Basketball Sweet Sixteen
March 23, 2026

HUTCHINSON, KS – No. 10 Walters State stayed alive in the NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Tournament on Sunday, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen on Tuesday afternoon.

It wasn't the prettiest performance for the Senators in their 93-84 win over No. 23 South Georgia, but Walters State hit shots late to hold off the Hawks. 

Tuesday's opponent will be No. 7 Midland. The game will be at Hutchinson Sports Arena at 2:30 pm CT and can be seen on ESPN+. The winner will take on No. 2 Southern Idaho on Wednesday at 2:30 pm CT. 

How They Got Here:

Walters State

  • The Senators advanced to the Sweet Sixteen after a 93-84 win over South Georgia State in the opening round. Walters State trailed by two with 12 minutes to go before Carter Webb took over with four 3-pointers in three minutes.

  • Webb had 17 points in the game, while Taquez Butler added 22 points, six rebounds and six assists. Brian Carter also had 15 points and six rebounds, and Da'Mori Lytch finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. 

  • As a team, Walters State shot 60% from the field and assisted on 23 of 33 made baskets. The Senators outrebounded the Hawks, 42-25. 

Midland 

  • Midland finished the season at 27-6 and 11-5 in Region 5 play. The Chaps finished in fourth place in the WJCAC.

  • In the Southwest District Tournament, Midland defeated McLennan (74-71) in the opening round, South Plains in the Semifinals (74-70) but lost to Howard (82-72) in the Championship.

  • In the Championship game, Duane Thompson finished with 20 points, while Solomon Ominu and Antoine Bo Hurns each added 12. 

  • Midland was the top at-large team to make the NJCAA Tournament and received a bye in the opening round. 

Walters State Team Stats:

  • Walters State ranks Top 10 in the NJCAA in eight statistical categories: 

    • No. 1 Assists Per Game (23.5)

    • No. 2 in Field Goal Percentage (54.3%)

    • No. 4 in Points Per Game (95.9)

    • No. 4 in Field Goal Percentage allowed (38.2%)

    • No. 6 in 3-point Percentage (40.7%)

    • No. 6 in Points Allowed Per Game (64.7)

    • No. 7 in Turnovers Forced (17.5)

    • No. 7 in Total Rebound Margin (12.8)

  • Brian Carter is first in the country in field goal % (75.7%)

  • Six Players averaging double-digit points:

Players To Watch:

Walters State

  • Da'Mori Lytch: The TCCAA Player of the Year, Lytch shot 67.4% from the field and averaged 12.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Lytch scored double-digits in 20 games on the season. His best game came against Roane State on November 12 when he finished with 24 points and eight rebounds. Lytch had 18 and nine against Volunteer State on November 22 and Chattanooga State on December 3. 

  • Taquez Butler: Butler earned All-TCCAA First Team honors after averaging 12.1 points and dishing out five assists per game. Butler shot 49.5% from the field and led the conference with 142 assists. Butler's assist-to-turnover ratio was 3.8, and he made 70 3-pointers. Butler was also named the TCCAA/Region 7 Tournament MVP.  For the tournament, Butler finished with 49 points, 12 3-pointers made and 16 rebounds in three games. 

  • Jamar Livingston: Another All-TCCAA First Team member, Livingston was fourth in the conference in points per game at 13.1. Livingston made 69 3-pointers, shot 42.1% from 3 and shot 82.6% from the charity stripe. On the defensive end, Livingston had 51 steals. 

  • Brian Carter: Named to the All-TCCAA Second Team, Carter is second in the country in field goal percentage at 75.2%. Carter averaged 12.2 points and five rebounds per game, and he shot 72.4% from the free-throw line. Carter scored double-digit points in eight of the Senators last 10 games of the regular season. 

Midland

  • Darius Carr - Carr leads the way for Midland, averaging 15.8 points per game. Carr shot 49% from the field and scored double digits in all but five games this season. Carr's season-high came against Pearl River CC, when he scored 27 points. 

  • Antoine Bo Hurns - Hurns averaged 11.5 points and five rebounds per game. Hurns shot 54% from the field and 38% from 3-point range. Hurns collected 157 rebounds on the season. Defensively, Hurns had 53 steals. 

  • Yeison Liberato - Liberato averaged 10 points per game and shot 54.2% from the field. Against Temple College, Liberato shot 15-18 from the field and scored 31 points. 

  • Cayden Reed - The point guard for Midland, Reed averaged 8.7 points and five assists per game. Reed shot 44% from the field and made 40 3-pointers on the season. Reed's assist-to-turnover ratio was 2.8, and he collected 63 steals on the season.