A 16-6 Fisk run midway through the second half buoyed the visitors, sending the Kentucky State University men's basketball team to the 80-75 non-conference loss Wednesday at the William Exum Center.

The game-changing spurt occurred during a three-plus minute span, and turned a three-point lead into a seven-point deficit with 6:50 remaining. Kentucky State pulled to within two points following a basket by senior Ditalion Battle (Cincinnati, OH), but the Thorobreds couldn't get the stop and the basket needed to pull even.

Fisk methodically stretched its lead in the first half, and with 5:29 left, Kentucky State trailed by 11. The Thorobreds turned up the full-court defensive intensity to get back into the game. A lob dunk connection from senior Austin Sherrell (Detroit, MI) to senior Kevin Hayes (Detroit, MI) brought the deficit to three points at the buzzer.

Five ties and six lead changes punctuated the early parts of the second half before the aforementioned run sent KSU to the loss.

Kentucky State marched to the line 33 times, and connected on just 21 (63.6 percent), and was 23-of-66 (34.8 percent) from the field.

Three players – Hayes, Battle and Sherrell – reached double figures in the loss with Battle earning a double-double on 20 points and 11 rebounds. Hayes led the team with 24 points, while Sherrell dropped 14 points with nine rebounds and a team-high three assists. Redshirt junior Felix Wilson (Lexington, KY) also tallied three assists with a team-high three steals.

The Thorobreds (6-9 overall) travel to Tuskegee 4:30 p.m. EST Saturday for Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action.