The Kentucky State University men's basketball team travels to Salem, WV for the Joe Machin Tournament this weekend. The Thorobreds will play host Salem University 7 p.m. Saturday and California (PA) University 5 p.m. Sunday. (Video, Live Stats)

THE TEAMS: Kentucky State (4-4 overall, 2-2 SIAC) evened its record with a thrilling 91-90 road victory over LeMoyne-Owen Monday. Senior Ditalion Battle led the team with 28 points, while four other players – Felix Wilson (18 pts.), Kevin Hayes (16 pts.) and Grant Goode (10 pts.) – reached double figures.

Salem (6-3 overall) is coming off an 88-63 loss to Alderson Broaddus University on December 4. A Division II Independent, the Tigers have already tied their win total from last season.

California (PA) University (1-5) is coming off a 91-64 loss Sunday to West Chester. The Vulcans were picked to place fifth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).

THE COACHES: Jamaal Jackson is in his third season at the helm of his alma mater. The Thorobreds are 22-39 under Jackson. Kentucky State has been one of the top scoring teams in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference under Jackson. He came to KSU following a stint at Bluefield State College, where he led them to increased win totals in every season. The same can be said about his tenure at Stillman, where the Tigers improved upon their win totals.

Adam Williams, a former guard at the University of Kentucky and Marshall University, is in his third season as the Salem University head coach.

Danny Sancomb is in his first season as the head coach of the Vulcans. He came to California University after leading Wheeling Jesuit to the program's first-ever Mountain East Conference championship and a third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

THE PLAYERS: Senior Kevin Hayes has been the team's leading scorer in seven of the team's first eight games, and is second in the SIAC with 20.0 points per game. Senior guard Ditalion Battle, who is coming off a season-high 28 point effort against LeMoyne-Owen, is averaging 12.4 points. Senior Austin Sherrell has missed the last two games, but is leading the team with 7.2 boards and is third on the team with 9.5 points.

Cleveland State University transfer Shawn Christian is leading a quartet of double figure scorers for Salem with 18.2 points per game, while shooting 49.4 percent (44-of-89) from beyond the arc. More than 80 percent of his shots are three-point attempts. Six-foot-nine senior forward Malik Toppin is nearly averaging a double-double with 16.8 points and 9.1 rebounds. Kanayo Obi-Rabu (13.7 points) and Christopher Shields (13.0 points) are also averaging double figures.

Brent Pegram leads California in scoring with 14.3 points per game on 29-of-67 shooting (43.3 percent). Jermaine Hall leads the team with 8.4 rebounds and is third on the team with 11.8 points, while Collin MacAdams is second with 12.2 points and 7.8 rebounds.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Kentucky State University athletics is represented on Facebook (KSUThorobreds), Twitter (@KYSUAthletics) and Instagram (@KYSUAthletics). Follow all the happenings of Kentucky State University on social media by using the hashtags "#BredToWin" & "KSUForward."

UP NEXT: Kentucky State returns to the William Exum Center for the first time in nearly a month when the Thorobreds host Morehouse 3 p.m. December 15.