Box Score ATLANTA, Ga. (January 12, 2012) – In a conference game held at Morehouse College, the Kentucky State Thorobreds looked to stay above .500 with a win over the Maroon Tigers. After 40 minutes of rough play, KSU defeated Morehouse 71-66, improving to 6-4 (6-4 SIAC).

The game began with a seesaw of scoring, with four ties in the first four minutes of play. At the 15:37 mark, KSU senior guard, William Marsh, broke the tie, draining a long three to put the Breds up 14-11. After made free throws by Andrae Nelson and Mario Farris, Morehouse's Shawn Allen snatched an offensive rebound and put-back layup, giving the Maroon Tigers a 15-14 lead with 14:39 to play in the half. KSU then went on a 6-0 run, including another three-pointer by Marsh, taking a 20-15 lead, but MHC pushed back, tying the game at 21 with 8:25 remaining in the half.

Marsh stayed hot, draining another three with 5:11 to play. MHC's Cornez Nesbitt hit a short jumper to pull the Tigers within seven (23-30), but Dawson pushed the lead back to 10, sinking a three-pointer with 4:19 to play in the half. The Breds led by as much as 11 in the first period of play, but by halftime, the lead had dwindled to five (36-31).

The Breds maintained control of the game for most of the second half, leading by 12 points with 16:50 to play in the game. The second half was much more physical, resulting in two technical fouls on both teams and a flagrant foul on each team.

With 8:12 to play in the game, MHC pulled within three as Nelson made 1-of-2 free throws after a Gaston foul. The lead shrunk to one point with 7:49 to play, but KSU held their ground, increasing their lead to five with 6:52 left in the game.

The Maroon Tigers would not go down easily. With 3:18 remaining, Allen hit a jumper in the paint and was fouled by Markus Montague to tie the game at 63, then the Maroon Tigers took a 64-63 lead after Allen sunk the free throw.

KSU took a 65-64 lead on a layup by Austin Rich, but the Tigers took the lead again 65-66 after Nelson hit two free throws. Smith put KSU ahead 67-66 on a layup and with seven seconds in the game, Dawson did what had plagued the Breds the entire game, he knocked down both free throws, putting KSU ahead 69-66.  Daniyal Faquir missed a three-pointer that would have tied the game, forcing Allen to foul Dawson. Back at the line, Dawson sunk both free throws again to seal the 71-66 victory for the Breds.
Morehouse was led by Allen with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, followed by Nelson with 18 points and game-highs in rebounds (11) and blocks (6). Adam Callaway had a game-high 10 assists.

KSU's Marsh led the team with 17 points, knocking down 4-11 three-pointers. Austin Rich had a team-high seven assists. Patrick Dawson and John Gaston had 13 points each, while Kevin Smith had 12 points and a team-high 8 rebounds.

With the win, KSU improves to 6-4 (6-4 SIAC). Morehouse falls to 3-6 (3-4 SIAC).

Next up for the Breds is another conference matchup at Clark Atlanta on Saturday, January 14. Tip is set for 8 p.m.