FRANKFORT, Ky.  – Junior forward Ogien Ayo scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Kentucky State men's basketball team to a 72-69 victory over LeMoyne-Owen on Monday night in the Exum Center.
 
Ayo added eight rebounds and four steals. He led three Thorobreds in the double figures. Junior guard Aziel Blackwell went 3-of-4 at the charity stripe, Senior guard Lavar Miller Jr. made three from beyond the arc to score 13 and Junior forward Gregory Melvin added 10 points on the night.
 
Kentucky State led the contest for over 33 minutes and their fast-paced offense scored 20 points on fast breaks.
 
Melvin was sent to the line in the opening minute and made one of his two attempts to score the first points of the contest.
 
LeMoyne-Owen scored on back-to-back possessions that tied the game 5-5 at 17:08 of the first half. Both teams would follow tie the game four times before Ayo found a layup to put the Thorobreds ahead 22-13 with 10:56 remaining in the first half.
 
A late three-pointer put the Magicians ahead briefly but a layup by Morgan Brewer tied the game 32-32 at the 2:44 mark.
 
In the final seconds of the first half Cordell Livingston hit a three-pointer to give the Thorobreds a 40-36 lead headed into halftime.

Ayo converted a three-point play and followed with a three-pointer to give the Thorobreds a 51-49 lead. LeMoyne-Owen immediately tied the game 51-51 on a driving layup with 11:47 remaining in the first half.
 
The Magicians scored on a jumper to pull ahead of the Thorobreds by one before a turnaround jumper by Aziel Blackwell gave Kentucky State a 70-69 lead that would help them defend off LeMoyne Owen and take a 72-69 victory.  
Follow KSU Sports   
For complete coverage of Kentucky State Athletics, follow the Thorobreds on social media @KYSUAthletics (Twitter), @ksuthletics (Instagram), Kentucky State Athletics (Facebook) or visit the official home of Kentucky State Athletics at ksuthorobreds.com.