Box Score INDIANAPOLIS – The Thorobreds put up a valiant fight on the road against a Division I opponent before eventually falling 86-82 in men's basketball action at IUPUI on Saturday at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
The game was closely contested throughout, with 12 ties and nine lead changes. The Thorobreds led at halftime and were up by as many as seven points in the second half, but the Jaguars were able to come out with the victory in the end.
The first half went back and forth with neither team holding a lead of more than five points. Kentucky State took a 29-26 lead on a 3-pointer by
Teddy Ware Jr. at the 3:39 mark and held on to take a 39-37 lead to the break.
IUPUI started the second half on a 10-0 run to go up 47-39, but the Thorobreds battled back again. With the Jaguars holding a 51-43 lead with 15 minutes to play, Kentucky State put together a 15-0 run, including a stretch with two steals and eight points in 40 seconds, to go ahead 58-51.
IUPUI quickly came back with a 7-0 run to tie the game, and though a
Tryston Ford layup and a Ware 3-pointer briefly put Kentucky State back ahead, the Jaguars took the lead for good on a Marcellus Barksdale jumper with 7:24 to play.
Though the Jaguars built their lead to as many as 11 points with 1:53 left, Kentucky State scored on four straight possessions to pull within three at 83-80 on a Ford 3-pointer with 33 seconds left. Though a pair of
Dorian Jordan free throws made the score 84-82 with 26 seconds to go, IUPUI answered with a layup and the Thorobreds came up empty on their final possession.
Jordan finished with 14 points and seven assists and was one of five Thorobreds to reach double figures. Ford added 12 points, while
Malcolm Smith chipped in 11, and
Reggie Breeden and
Kevin Shaw each contributed 10. IUPUI's Nick Osborne scored 18 points to lead all players.
IUPUI shot 52 percent (30-of-58) from the field to Kentucky State's 45 percent (35-of-78), and the Jaguars held a 40-39 edge on the boards.
Kentucky State drops to 1-2 on the season with the loss, while IUPUI improves to 2-2. The Thorobreds return to action with a trip to Southern Indiana on Tuesday.
