Taylor, Machado push Senators past Tennessee Wesleyan JV

ATHENS, Tenn. — Paris Taylor scored 10 points and knocked down 10 rebounds as Walters State powered through Tennessee Wesleyan Junior Varsity 81-68 Tuesday night.

The Senators (2-1) spread the wealth on offense, with only Taylor and Luiz Machado reaching double figures. Machado was perfect from the floor, going 6-for-6 and 3-for-3 from beyond the three-point arc, scoring 20 points in the process. His only misses were at the free throw line, where he went 5-of-7.

WSCC fell behind early, 4-0 after a layup and jumper from Tennessee Wesleyan's Juanell Chapman. The Senators got on the board with a jump shot form Kobe Powell and tied the game with a two from Jamiah Halloway. Walters State took the lead when Jermize Weddle tipped in his own missed shot and kept it until midway through the first half.

After getting fouled beyond the three-point line, the Bulldogs' Jessie Lamert sank all his free throws t put Tennessee Wesleyan back ahead, 14-12. Walters State tied the game right back with a layup from Sly Thompson and, after falling behind again, knotted it up once more at 17-17 with a three from Darius Allen.

The teams traded baskets the rest of the half with WSCC taking a 41-38 lead into the locker room.

Walters State opened the second half with a 14-2 run that all but put the game away. A three from Grant Reardon pulled the Bulldogs within five six minutes into the frame, but they would get no closer as WSCC's defense stifled them the rest of the way. Tennessee Wesleyan would score just 17 points total for the remainder of the game.

The Bulldogs were led by Reardon, who poured in 16 points. Luke Joinier scored 12.

Walters State got nine points from Powell. Josh Dykes and Allen scored eight apiece.

The Senators will next be in action on Nov. 13 when they open TCCAA conference play at Chattanooga State Community College. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.