Box Score Tweet #KYSUmbb

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Lane College guard Terrance Bridgeman missed a potential game-tying 3-point attempt as the final horn sounded and the Kentucky State University men's basketball team earned an SIAC victory, 63-60, on Thursday night at the Exum Center.
 
With just under 17 minutes remaining in the game, Lane (8-10, 7-5 SIAC) held a 10 point lead, 38-28. On Kentucky State's (6-14, 4-9 SIAC) next possession, Johntae Alexander converted a layup that sparked a 24-11 Thorobred run that lasted for the next 10 minutes and was capped by a Ulysses Thomas III 3-pointer that gave KSU their first lead, 52-49, since the beginning of the game. The main catalyst during the run was Dorian Jordan who assisted or scored on nine of the Thorobreds 11 field goals. Jordan finished the game with a season-high 11 assists.
 
From there the teams went back-and-forth with the teams battling through eight ties or lead changes in the final seven minutes of the contest.
 
In the final minute, Kentucky State held a one-point lead but Bridgeman got loose for Lane and finished a reverse layup to put LC ahead, 60-59, with 17 seconds remaining.
 
On the Thorobreds next possession, LC's Donald Stewart fouled out of the game and sent KSU guard Malcolm Smith to the free-throw line with a chance to tie or take the lead. Smith calmly knocked down both to give Kentucky State back the lead, 61-60.
 
Lane once again called on Bridgeman for a bucket in the final seconds but great defensive pressure from Thomas forced Bridgeman to step on the end line for a critical turnover that gave KSU back the ball with the lead. Thomas was fouled right away and he headed to the line with a chance to extend the lead. Like Smith before him, Thomas hit both of his attempts and KSU pushed their lead to three.
 
With one more chance to tie the game for the Dragons, Bridgeman got off a contested 3-pointer as time expired but it clanged off the rim and Kentucky State earned the conference win, 63-60.
 
Smith's clutch free-throws at the end of the game were part of his game-high 21 points. Alexander was a key for KSU off the bench, picking up 13 points, seven rebounds and a pair of steals. Bench points were a key in Thursday's contest as KSU got 44 points from its bench while LC got just two from their reserves.
 
After averaging 24.5 points in his last two games, Thomas struggled from the floor, going 1-of-9, but was a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe to finish with nine points. Starting forward Darrien Wilkins added eight points and 11 rebounds.
 
Both Bridgeman and Stewart finished with 19 point to lead the Dragons. 6-foot-11 starting center Joseph Cooper went 6-of-7 from the floor to finish with a 14 point, 14 rebound double-double.
 
KSU now travels down to Jackson, Tenn. to finish up a rare back-to-back conference match-up against Lane on Monday, Feb. 9. After their game against the Dragons, the Thorobreds return home for a showdown with LeMoyne-Owen on Thursday, Feb. 12.