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FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky State University men's basketball team survived a late push from the visiting LeMoyne-Owen Magicians to defeat LOC, 75-71, on Thursday night at the Exum Center.
 
Kentucky State survives another close game and improves to 7-15 overall and 5-10 in SIAC play this season. Excluding a 13 point loss to Lane on Feb. 9, the Thorobreds have had a point differential of just 1.8 points in their last eight games. LeMoyne-Owen falls to 12-11 overall and 8-6 in conference action.
 
LeMoyne-Owen jumped out to an early 6-0 lead to start the contest and held the lead for the first nine minutes of the game. After Johntae Alexander gave KSU its first lead of the game, 20-19, with 10:16 left in the first half, the teams went back-and-forth for the next few minutes.
 
With the teams knotted at 24-24, Kentucky State's Malcolm Smith hit a 3-pointer to put KSU ahead with 5:44 left on the clock and the Thorobreds never trailed again.
 
KSU held a 33-17 scoring advantage from the team's reserve players.
 
Smith came off the bench to lead the Thorobreds with 22 points. Smith was red-hot in the first half, going 6-of-7 from the floor including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc to pick up 16 points in the first 20 minutes of the game. Guard Tryston Ford went 6-of-14 from the floor to tie a season-high with 17 points on Thursday. Darrien Wilkins contributed with seven points and a team-high eight rebounds. Dorian Jordan added a game-high five assists.
 
LOC was paced by Dequan Mitchell who finished with 18 points, five boards, a pair of blocks and two steals. Point guard Byron Ray added 14 points.
 
Kentucky State now sets its sights on the Miles College Golden Bears who visit the Exum Center this Saturday, Feb. 14, at 3 p.m. KSU will be hosting its annual "Pink Game" where the teams encourage fans to wear pink to help raise awareness about breast cancer prevention. The game also doubles as "Take a Kid to the Game Day" where all children under 18 will get free admission with the purchase of an accompanying adult ticket.