Box Score
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Tied at 74 with less than two minutes remaining, the Kentucky State University Thorobreds scored six unanswered points to defeat the Benedict College Tigers, 80-74, on Thursday night at the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
The victory was a historic one for Kentucky State. Since the teams started playing each other during the 2002-03 season, the Thorobreds had never beaten the Tigers in Columbia prior to Thursday.
With the victory Kentucky State moves to 4-8 overall this season and 3-3 in SIAC action. Benedict drops to 6-6 overall and 4-2 in the SIAC.
With 1:34 left on the clock, Benedict tied the game at 74 when Brennan Reynard hit one of two free throws. On the next possession, Kentucky State took the lead for good when
Ulysses Thomas III sparked a 6-0 Thorobred run with a jumper after a steal by Markus Montague. After another Benedict turnover,
Tryston Ford hit two clutch free throws with 21 seconds left. When Benedict missed a layup on their next possession and KSU took the ball back, Thomas was fouled and calmly stepped to the line to sink a pair of free-throws to seal the game for Kentucky State.
As a team, KSU had their second best game of the season from the charity stripe. The Thorobreds shot 83 percent (19-for-23) from the free-throw line.
Thomas tied a season-high with 20 points against Benedict to go with three rebounds and three assists. Ford added 14 points off the bench, going 3-of-4 from 3-point distance. Forward
Darrien Wilkins finished with 12 points and nine rebounds.
Reynard led the Tigers with 23 points. Jordan Smith had 14 points, while Deonte Johnson and Auntrell Holloway added 10 each.
The Thorobreds down to Atlanta this Saturday, Jan. 17, for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off against Morehouse before heading back home for a three-game home stand starting on Thursday, Jan. 22, when Kentucky State hosts SIAC newcomer Spring Hill at 7:30 p.m.
