Second half rally not enough, Senators lose to Bevill State 84-74

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Walters State and Bevill State traded baskets all through the second half, but the scoring surge wasn't enough. The Bears opened the Wallace State tournament with an 84-74 win over the Senators Friday night.

WSCC (5-4) began the first half cold. After scoring the first basket in the game on a Paris Taylor layup, Bevill State went on a 7-0 run capped with a Latrell Tate jumper.

The Senators ended the spurt with two free throws from Anthony Jones, then a Taylor jumper, but it was only temporary. BSCC outscored Walters State 14-2 over the next three minutes to take a 21-10 lead at the 12:30 mark.

WSCC found its defense and began clawing its way back into the game, getting within four points after a Sly Thompson steal ended with a Kobe Powell layup. A Jamaiah Holloway layup made the score 23-21 midway through the period. Demarius Boyd sank a three to pull within one 30 seconds later.

A three from Jordan Wilkerson gave the Senators a 30-28 lead with a little under seven to go, but they couldn't hold it. The Bears turned it on again in the final minutes of the half with an 18-4 run to take a 46-34 lead into the locker room. The Senators would trail by double digits until the final nine minutes when a Powell layup made the score 64-54.

WSCC cut the lead to seven with a Powell layup two minutes later, but could only trade scores the rest of the way.

Powell led the Senators with 17 points off the bench. Boyd scored 14, Jones scored 12, Taylor had 11 and Luiz Machado put in 10. Taylor added nine rebounds.

Tate put in 42 points for Bevill State. Neslon Haskins scored 11 and Anthony Brown added 10.

NEXT UP

Walters State wraps up its Wallace State Tournament trip by playing the host team at 2 p.m.