Men's Basketball | 12/20/2024 3:44:00 PM

Box Score UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The Kentucky State men's basketball team battled Lincoln in the championship game of the 2024 Toyota Chris Paul HBCU Classic but came up short, falling 78-70 on Friday at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
 
Lavar Miller Jr. led the Thorobreds with 22 points, making six field goals, including three three-pointers, and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line. He also added nine rebounds to his performance.
 
Aziel Blackwell continued to make an impact on offense, tallying 21 points, six rebounds, and a team-high three steals for the Thorobreds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ogien Ayo opened the scoring for the Thorobreds with a three-point play, setting the tone for a tightly contested start. The lead shifted hands four times and the game was tied on three occasions before Lincoln gained a 12-8 advantage with 15:21 remaining in the first half.
 
The Lions surged ahead with a 15-2 run, building a 19-8 lead at the 12:58 mark of the first half. The Thorobreds halted the momentum with back-to-back baskets by Lavar Miller Jr.
 
Kentucky State gained momentum with a 9-2 run, narrowing the gap to trail Lincoln 21-17 with 8:47 remaining in the first half. However, Lincoln answered emphatically with a 12-2 run, extending their lead to 38-23 at the 2:29 mark.
 
The Lions closed the first half strong from beyond the arc, hitting three of their final four three-point attempts to secure a 45-29 lead at halftime.
 
The Thorobreds trimmed the Lions' lead to single digits as Aziel Blackwell's layup brought Kentucky State within eight points, cutting the deficit to 54-46 with 13:31 left in the second half.
 
Kentucky State continued to battle, stringing together a 5-0 run to narrow the gap to 63-54 against Lincoln with 7:32 remaining in the second half.
 
Lincoln maintained their momentum down the stretch, securing an 78-70 victory over the Thorobreds.
 
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