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FRANKFORT, Ky. – In a game that was tightly contested throughout, the Kentucky State University men's basketball team was able to outlast the visiting Stillman College Tigers, 81-73, on Tuesday night at the Exum Center.
 
The Thorobreds (9-17, 7-12 SIAC) wrap up their regular season schedule with a much needed victory over the top-seed in the West Division, Stillman (17-9, 13-6 SIAC), to help build momentum heading into next week's SIAC Championship Tournament as the five-seed out of the West Division.
 
The Thorobreds came out of the gate strong to begin the game. KSU used an early 7-0 run capped by a Markus Montague jumper to go ahead 9-2 just four minutes into the contest. After a pair of ties in the first half, a pair of free throws from point guard Quentin Henderson gave the Thorobreds a lead with 12:25 left in the first and the Thorobreds held that lead until just under the 12 minute mark in the second half. A 14-1 run by the Tigers in the middle of the final half gave Stillman a brief lead but Kentucky State regained its composure and pushed its lead to as many as nine before finishing off SC, 81-73, to earn the conference victory.
 
Just after Kentucky State honored its outgoing seniors with a ceremony in-between the women's and men's games, senior forward Darrien Wilkins had a career night. Wilkins finished with a career-high 27 points, going 11-of-15 from the floor, to help pace the Thorobreds. He also had six rebounds and a block. Guards Malcolm Smith and Tryston Ford also had solid offensive nights, finishing with 16 and 13 points respectively. The pair combined to go 4-for-7 from beyond the arc to help stretch the floor for KSU. Point guard Dorian Jordan got his second straight start for KSU, picking up 11 assists to finish with double digit dimes for the third time this season. In just 10 minutes on the floor, center Julius Barton picked up a game-high three rejections.
 
Stillman was led by Rodnerius Lewis who was a tough match-up for Kentucky State all night. Lewis finished with a game-high 33 points, going 9-of-15 from the field and a perfect 14-for-14 from the free-throw line. Markeith Madison added 17 points and nine rebounds.
 
The Thorobreds now set their sights on the SIAC Championship Tournament being held in Birmingham, Alabama at the Birmingham Crossplex on March 2-7.