Box Score

Frankfort, Ky. – Kentucky State University men's basketball dropped its season opener to the University of the Cumberlands 84-67 Tuesday night at the Exum Center.
 
Junior guard Dorian Jordan went seven-for-16 from the floor, netting a team-high 18 points while sophomore guard Chas Harvey scored 16 points off the bench for the Thorobreds. The defense was anchored by senior forward Julius Barton. The West Memphis, Ark. native grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds to go along with his two blocks and three steals in the contest.
 
The Thorobreds' (0-1) defense was stifling in the contest, tallying 15 steals and forcing the Patriots to commit 25 total turnovers in the game.
 
Despite stellar defensive play, the Patriots were lights out from the floor, netting 21 of 28 field goals in the first stanza to jump out to a 54-26 lead over KSU going into halftime.
 
The defensive intensity amped up for the home team to start the second half, as the full-court pressure helped KSU go on a 15-5 run in the first 4:11, cutting the lead to 16 and forcing a UC timeout with the score at 60-41. 
 
"We came out and played effortless basketball," said head coach Jamaal Jackson when asked about the team's second half performance. "We were prepared, and the guys came out fired up."
 
While KSU outscored UC 41-30 in the second half, it was not enough to pick up the win as the Thorobreds went on to drop their home opener 84-67.
 
The Thorobreds went 22-for- 61 as a team from the floor while also sinking 20 of their 29 attempts from the charity stripe in the contest.
 
KSU will visit the University of Illinois-Springfield for its next game of the season Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. ET.