FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky State University men's basketball team used a dominant second half to snap its two game losing skid Saturday, defeating Lane College, 85-73, in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at the William Exum Center.

Kentucky State improves to 7-9 overall, 4-5 in the SIAC, while Lane falls to 7-9 overall, 3-5 SIAC.
 
TURNING POINTS
Leading by one point with 8:28 remaining, senior point guard Orlando Fikes (Detroit, Mich.) sparked the Thorobred run with a pair of 3-pointers over a two-minute span. This propelled a 12-4 KSU run which enabled the 'Breds to pull away late in the contest. Fikes accounted for a total of 14 points in the victory. It was the second time this season he tallied double digits.

The highlight of the game came at the end of the first half, when senior guard, Grant Goode threw down an emphatic two-handed slam, putting a Lane defender on a poster. 

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Junior guard Kevin Wharton-Price (Pittsburgh, PA) and senior guard Grant Goode (Matawan, NJ) led the Kentucky State attack, scoring career-high 23 and 19 points respectively. Price and Goode were also on fire from behind the arc, as the two guards shot a combined 9-of-13 from three-point land. 

Wharton-Price connected on a career-high seven three-pointers on nine attempts.

Graduate Shaq Athie (Cincinnati, Ohio) was a glass cleaner, leading the charge with a game-high 14 rebounds and tying a career-high with five assists. It was the seventh time this season Athie pulled down at least 10 boards.

COACH SPEAK
"It was a big win for us, a divisional win," said Kentucky State University head coach Jamaal Jackson. "The guys played together, as a team. They moved the ball, and were knocking down shots. I am really happy with them today."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Putting on a three-point clinic, Wharton-Price played 34 minutes to help stabilize the offense, posing as an outside threat for the Thorobreds. He led the team in points (23) and blocked shots (3), while shooting an amazing 7-10 from behind the arc.

Kentucky State assisted on 59 percent of its baskets with 17 assists on 29 made baskets.

For the sixth time this season, senior Jordan Little (Jersey City, N.J.) was held to under 10 points. The Thorobreds are now 2-4 in those games.

Nine players saw action in the game, and eight of them pulled down at least one rebound.

NEXT UP
Kentucky State returns to action in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup against Miles College, 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 in Fairfield, Ala.