UTIII (Large)
Yusuf Davis

Men's Basketball

Kentucky State Earns Spot in Semifinals with Victory Against Albany State, 73-62

Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- For the second tournament game in a row, the Kentucky State men's basketball team got revenge on a team that had beaten them in the regular season. The Kentucky State University Thorobreds defeated the Albany State University Golden Rams, 73-62, in the quarterfinal round of the SIAC Basketball Championship Tournament on Thursday evening at the Bill Harris Arena.

As a team the Thorobreds shot a solid 46% from the floor while holding ASU to just 35%, the second lowest by an opponent this season. The Thorobreds spread the load offensively, with five players finishing in double figures. 
                                                                            
#2E Albany State built up a 9-0 lead early in the first half before a 3-pointer from Ulysses Thomas III gave KSU its first bucket of the game.
 
Kentucky State took its first lead of the game when Darrien Wilkins converted a fast-break layup to put KSU ahead, 16-15, with 10:11 left in the first period.
 
With Kentucky State trailing by three towards the end of the first period, KSU senior guard Antonio Sullivan scored his first seven points of the game in a period of one minute and four seconds to put Kentucky State ahead 29-25 with 1:37 left. Sullivan was a major key for KSU, dropping in a team-high 15 points, going 6-of-10 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
 
With the final seconds of the first period ticking away, the Thorobreds once again looked to senior guard Darquell Pulliam who, for the second game in a row, hit a basket as the first half buzzer sounded. Pulliam used his quickness to blow by his man at the top of the key and buried a floater as time expired to send the Thorobreds into the locker leading, 31-27.
 
In the second half, the teams battled but Kentucky State continually held off a feisty ASU team. 
 
With the exception of a layup by Albany State's Larry Bullock with12:20 left that tied the game at 41-41, Kentucky State lead for the entire second half.
 
At the 9:36 mark of the second half KSU forward Brandon Darrett was assessed a technical foul. The senior was invested in the game from the very start, finishing with his 11th double-double of the season after tallying 12 points and 12 rebounds. He also had four blocks and a steal on the defensive end. 
 
With just over two minutes left in the game, Bullock hit a key 3-pointer and a pair of free-throws to pull the Golden Rams within three points with KSU holding onto a 65-62 lead.
 
Right after that Thomas III threw down a vicious alley-oop dunk offered up by Pulliam to put KSU ahead, 67-62, with all the momentum. The highlight play sparked an 8-0 Kentucky State run to close out the game. 

Senior guard Adams went 6-of-10 from the floor in 17 minutes off the bench, finishing with 13 points. 

With the win Kentucky State sets up a semifinal matchup with #1W Tuskegee University on Friday, Mar. 7th at 7:45 p.m. (CT).
 
You can follow along with live stats at, http://www.sidearmstats.com/siac/mbball/.

Follow along on the official Kentucky State athletics Facebook and Twitter pages for live updates from the tournament. 

For tickets and coverage of the entire tournament go to www.thesiactournament.com.  
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