Men's Basketball Opens Regular Season with Win Against Dalton State

PIKEVILLE, Ky.- Tennessee Wesleyan University showcased a commanding performance in their opening game of the regular season at the UPIKE Classic, earning a 92-78 victory over the Dalton State College Roadrunners. Their balanced offensive attack and solid defense carried them to the first win of the Randy Casey era.

TWU came out firing, led by Peyton West, who opened the scoring with back-to-back three-pointers. Ty Hurst added another three, giving the Bulldogs early momentum. Amauri Young made key steals and converted on fast breaks, extending TWU's lead. Midway through the half, Reshaun Hampton drilled a three-pointer to cap a 19-11 run, forcing Dalton State into a timeout. TWU continued to dominate in the paint, with Armando Cuardado grabbing crucial rebounds and scoring on putbacks. By halftime, TWU held a strong 43-32 lead.

The Bulldogs picked up where they left off, with West hitting another three-pointer early in the half, extending the lead to 53-34. Hurst and Hampton were electric, combining for several scoring plays, including layups and perimeter shots. Young was instrumental in creating offensive opportunities, recording assists and scoring in transition. Dalton State made a late push, narrowing the gap to single digits, but TWU responded with resilience. West's clutch three-pointer with under three minutes remaining sealed the victory, while Young's layup in the final minute pushed the Bulldogs' total to 92.

West led the offense with 24 points.