Box Score FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The Kentucky State University men's basketball team defeated the Trevecca Nazarene Trojans, 89-81, in a non-conference game on Thursday night at the Exum Center.
Kentucky State (6-9, 4-5 SIAC) gained momentum by hitting some key shots early and used several highlight plays in the second half to finish off the visiting Trojans (5-13, 2-5 G-MAC).
Senior guard Antonio Sullivan connected on a 3-point shot in the Thorobreds first possession of the game to get things started for KSU. The hot shooting continued all game long, with the Thorobreds hitting 50% (28-of-56) of their attempts from the floor including 54.5% (6-of-11) from beyond the arc.
Kentucky State built their first half lead to as many as 21 points when Sullivan emphatically finished off an alley-oop pass from Darquell Pulliam to put the Thorobreds ahead, 44-23, with 3:23 left in the half.
On the Trojans final possession of the first half, TNU guard Nick Drake put up a shot in the lane as the clock ran down but senior forward Brandon Darrett sent the shot right back with one of his game-high four blocks. KSU took an 18 point lead into the locker room, leading TNU 47-29.
Despite several momentous plays that the Thorobreds continued to make in the second half, the Trojans kept fighting. KSU went up by as many as 22 points in the final half on Thursday. With 6:26 left in the game, Troy Adams got three of his 12 points on a 3-pointer that put the Thorobreds ahead, 78-56. While the game was never in doubt, Trevecca was able to whittle the KSU lead down in the second half, hitting a pair of free-throws at the end of regulation that cut the Kentucky State lead to eight before the final buzzer sounded.
Freshman Muhammed Cross played just five minutes and finished with just four points on Thursday but he made a huge statement in his limited time. With just under five minutes left in the game, guard Tryston Ford found Cross wide open under the basket. Cross gathered with two feet and raised up, throwing down a thunderous dunk that sent his teammates and the crowd into a deafening roar. With just one minute left in the game, Devan Crain once again found Cross who, just as before, rose up and finished with another huge throw-down.
The Thorobreds seem to have found a balance offensively as they had six players score in double digits during Thursday's game.
Darrett led the way with a team-high 15 points and also added nine boards, just one shy of finishing with his seventh double-double of the season.
Sullivan and Adams finished with 12 points each. Darrien Wilkins finished with a double-double, picking up 11 points and 10 rebounds. Ulysses Thomas III and Crain finished with 10 points each. Crain, playing in just his second game this season, has made an immediate impact by getting others involved as well. Crain finished the game with a game-high five assists.
The Trojans were led by quick guard Byron Sanford who finished with 18 points and three rebounds. Big men Jordan Bedwell and David Woodard finished with 13 points each.
Kentucky State heads out on the road this weekend for a pair of SIAC contests starting with a game against Miles on Saturday, Jan. 25th. The Thorobreds will then head to Memphis, TN for a match-up with the LeMoyne-Owen Magicians on Monday, Jan. 27th.
