COLUMBIA, S.C.   –  Aziel Blackwell's season-high shooting from the field led Kentucky State to a 74-69 victory over Allen on Thursday night in Columbia, South Carolina.
 
Blackwell delivered a season-high performance, making 10 field goals and adding nine free throws to lead all scorers with 31 points.
 
Ogien Ayo recorded a season-high 14 rebounds and three blocks while contributing five points.
 
Lavar Miller Jr. also played a pivotal role, sinking three three-pointers and six field goals to finish with 17 points.
 
Kentucky State tied the game twice early in the first half, which was followed by a three-pointer from Lavar Miller Jr. that led to a 7-0 run and a 10-4 Kentucky State lead at 15:31 of the half. The Yellow Jackets responded with a run to tie the game 13-13 as 12:07 remained in the first half.
 
The Thorobreds kept things close, tying the game for the third time when Gregory Melvin scored on a layup at the 9:21 mark of the first half. Aziel Blackwell then converted a three-point play to knot the score at 23-23 with 5:49 remaining.
 
Allen pulled away slightly toward the end of the half, taking a 32-29 lead into the break.
 
Blackwell sparked the Thorobreds' second-half rally with a layup in the opening minutes. Allen briefly regained the lead, but at the 6:20 mark, Blackwell's layup put the Thorobreds ahead 58-57.
 
The Yellow Jackets fought back, tying the game twice, but Blackwell remained dominant. In the final minute, Gregory Melvin converted a three-point play, giving the Thorobreds some breathing room and sealing their 74-69 victory over the Yellow Jackets.
 
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