FORT VALLEY, GA – Senior Austin Sherrell recorded a double-double as the Kentucky State University men's basketball team opened Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action with a resounding thumping of Fort Valley State, 81-54, Saturday at the HPE Complex. (Post Game Presser)

Kentucky State led nearly wire-to-wire in registering the win. The Thorobreds shot 45 percent (27-of-60) from the floor and shot a season-best 79.2 percent (19-of-24) from the charity stripe.

After surrendering the first basket of the game, Kentucky State scored 18 of the next 22 points to open up a double-digit lead that stayed at least 10 points for all but 24 seconds of the rest of the contest. Another spurt, this one 14-4, pushed the KSU bulge to 21 points.

The home team wouldn't go away without mounting one fight. Fort Valley State went on a 15-5 run to get to within 10 points, however, the Wildcats never got their deficit under double figures.

Sherrell (Detroit, MI) finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, while senior Kevin Hayes (Detroit, MI) dropped 20 points, 14 of which came in the first half. Five different players reached eight points in the victory. Two of the players, junior Grant Goode (Matawan, NJ) and DeAndre Wynn (Miami, FL), added seven boards.

The Thorobreds (3-2 overall, 1-0 SIAC) travel to Albany State 8:30 p.m. Monday for SIAC action.