MORRISTOWN, Tenn. — The Walters State Senators wiped away a 19-point second half deficit with a 37-13 closing run Saturday afternoon to pull out a 78-73 victory over the visiting Motlow State Bucks at ‘Z’ Buda Gymnasium.

With the win, the Senators improves to 9-2 for the season and maintains a tie atop the conference standings with a 6-1 mark in Tennessee Community College Athletic Association play. The loss dropped Motlow to 7-5 overall and 4-3 in league action.

The Bucks held a 37-30 halftime lead and extended their advantage to at 60-41 with 10:50 left in the contest, but the Senators respnonded with some of their best basketball of the season in the closing stretch.

Walters State fought back and claimed the lead with 1:31 left and never trailed again, as Motlow had a chance for a tying three-pointer in the final seconds but missed and was called for a technical foul after signaling a timeout with none remaining.

Walters State finished the contest shooting 45.9 percent (28 of 61) from the floor, including 5 of 16 from long distance. The Senators were outrebounded by the Bucks 45-25 but only committed nine turnovers.

Kyle Upton led Walters State with 16 points in the game, while Fred Sturdivant and Darius Randolph each added 15 points in the win.

Motlow shot 52.8 percent (28 of 53) in the contest and made 8 of 15 from beyond the three-point arc. The Bucks were forced into 23 turnovers in the loss.

Darryn Frazier led the Bucks with 18 points, while Freddie Goldstein added 12 points and Robbie Townsend had 11 in the defeat.

The Senators have nearly a month off from game action following Saturday’s game, as they will not return to the hardwood until Thursday, Jan. 7, when they travel to Elizabethton to take on Milligan. Tipoff of that contest is slated for 7:30 p.m.