JACKSON, Tenn. — It was a tight contest the entire way, but Walters State could never quite catch Jackson State Saturday night, falling 81-72 in the regular season finale for both teams.

The Senators (16-13, 9-9 TCCAA) put five players in double figures in the comeback attempt, but it wasn't enough. The Green Jays' Kavion Hancock was a force all his own, firing in 30 points in the victory.

WSCC was never out of the game until the final minutes, hanging within 10 points after a De'Marius Boyd layup with 4:58 to go in the contest. Luiz Machado tapped in a lay-in of his own to get within eight less than a minute later, but a 3-pointer from Hancock stretched the lead back to double digits.

The Senators clawed back, getting as close as seven after layups from Paris Taylor and Boyd, then down to six on a Machado three, but a three from Julian Hibbler pushed the lead back to eight. Two free throws from Hancock would move it back to 10 with a minute remaining and it was too much to overcome for Walters State in 60 seconds of game time.

The Senators got 16 points from Kobe Powell and 13 apiece from Machado, Taylor, Boyd and Anthony Jones.

Radarious Washington put in 18 for the Green Jays, with Beans contributing 14.

NEXT UP

It's Region VII tournament time as the Senators begin their quest to sneak in the NJCAA national tournament. It begins on Feb. 29 in Columbia, Tenn.