MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Walters State held a 9-point lead in the second half but could not hold on Friday night inside Verties Sails Gymnasium at Southwest Tennessee.

The Senators were done in by a red-hot shooting performance from the home team, as the Saluqis shot better than 70 percent in the opening half and better than 60 percent for the game in an 80-74 victory over Walters State in a Tennessee Community College Athletic Association contest.

With the win, the Saluqis improved to 5-3 on the year and 2-1 in TCCAA play, as they won for the fourth time in the last five games.

The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Senators, as they fall to 9-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.

The two teams battled evenly through most of the first half, with neither team leading by more than 5 points in the first 20 minutes. Walters State had just four players score in the opening 11 minutes but only trailed 22-20, and Miles Thomas took over for the Senators in the final nine minutes of the frame.

Thomas fired in 10 of the last 19 points of the opening half, and he helped erase a late 5-point deficit as Walters State pulled ahead 39-37 in the closing seconds before the Saluqis took a 40-39 lead into halftime.

Walters State shot 46.4 percent (13 of 28) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, making 4 of 11 from long range and 9 of 12 at the free throw line. Thomas led all scorers in the first half with 16 points.

The Saluqis scorched the nets in the first half to the tune of 72.7 percent (16 of 22) shooting while knocking down 6 of 10 from 3-point land and 2 of 3 from the charity stripe. Southwest committed 13 turnovers in the first half to keep the Senators within a point at the break.

The Senators charged out to a 9-point lead with 13:09 left in the contest, but they could not keep the momentum or cool off the hot shooting home team. Southwest began to chip away, and the Saluqis took the lead in the final 10 minutes and led by as much as 9 points going down the stretch before a late 3-pointer from Demontay Dixon cut the final margin to 80-74.

For the game, Walters State shot 46.6 percent (27 of 58) from the floor, including 8 of 22 from long range, and the Senators connected on 12 of 17 free throws. WSCC was outrebounded 31-25 in the contest and committed 13 turnovers compared to 19 by the home team.

Thomas led the Senators with 26 points while also grabbing 6 rebounds, collecting 3 steals and blocking a pair of shots in the contest. Dixon added 14 points and 8 rebounds, while Kajuan Hale tallied 9 points and 7 assists and Kobe Powell finished with 8 points in the loss.

The Saluqis shot 62.5 percent (30 of 48) from the floor in the win, making 7 of 17 from long distance and 13 of 20 at the stripe. Cedric Henderson paced Southwest with 19 points, while J'Sebian Brown totaled 17 points and Yuryk Lazard added a dozen in the contest.

The Senators have a quick turnaround for their next game, as they head to Dyersburg to take on undefeated Dyersburg State (8-0, 2-0 TCCAA) Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.