Box Score FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky State battled back from a slow start to pull out a 94-88 victory over Paine in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball action Thursday at the Exum Center.
It was a game that featured nine ties and 15 lead changes, but the Thorobreds were able to pull ahead for good with just under four minutes to play.
Five Kentucky State players reached double figures, with
Kevin Shaw leading the way with 21 points, including 4-of-7 shooting from outside.
Dorian Jordan, who leads Division II in assists, tallied 15 points with nine assists, while
Julius Barton had 15 points with seven rebounds.
Reggie Breeden and
Malcolm Smith also reached double digits with 11 and 10 points respectively.
The first half opened with Paine taking a 10-0 lead and keeping Kentucky State scoreless until a Barton layup at the 14:28 mark. The Thorobreds battled back throughout the half, eventually taking the lead at 28-27 when a Jordan free throw capped a 10-1 run. Kentucky State took a 39-35 lead to the half, but neither team would lead by more than seven the rest of the way.
The lead changed hands throughout the second half until Smith broke a late tie with a 3-pointer that put the Thorobreds up 84-81 with 3:07 left.
Quentin Henderson got a steal and a layup to put Kentucky State up five, but Denzel Dillingham, who led all players with 25 points, scored four straight to pull Paine within one.
On the ensuing possession, however, Shaw made a 3-pointer to put Kentucky State up 89-85 with 1:40 left. A Paine free throw briefly cut the lead to three, but the Thorobreds managed to bury six free throws in the final minute to seal the win.
Kentucky State shot 52 percent (33-of-64) from the field and 33 percent (5-of-15) from outside, while Paine shot 42 percent (27-of-64) overall and 11 percent (2-of-18) from 3-point range. Paine held a 43-33 rebounding advantage.
Kentucky State improves to 2-3 on the year and opens at 1-0 in SIAC play with the win, while Paine drops to 1-7 overall and 0-1 in the conference. The Thorobreds host Claflin on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Exum Center.
