ATLANTA – Kentucky State men's basketball fought hard against top-seeded Clark Atlanta but came up short in a 77-72 quarterfinal loss in the 2025 SIAC Men's Basketball Championship on Wednesday night at Forbes Arena in Atlanta.
                                                                    
Kentucky State excelled at the free-throw line, shooting 80% (17-of-20) as a team. The Thorobreds also dominated in transition, outscoring Clark Atlanta 13-1 on fast breaks while converting turnovers into 11 points.
 
In his final game in the green and gold senior Lavar Miller Jr. made eight three-pointers to lead the Thorobreds with 29 points.
 
Leading the Thorobreds with eight rebounds junior Gregory Melvin went 5-of-6 at the charity stripe to score 19 points.
 
Miller found his rhythm from beyond the arc, hitting four of his last five attempts to pull Kentucky State within four, trailing 25-21, with 7:29 remaining in the first half.
 
Ayo knocked down a three-pointer to cut the deficit to one, 27-26, at the 5:40 mark. Miller connected again from deep at 3:57 to keep the Thorobreds within one, 32-31.

Gregory Melvin tied the game at 33-all with a jumper at 2:50, then followed with a 3-pointer to give Kentucky State a 36-35 lead at 2:19. However, Clark Atlanta responded with back-to-back baskets to regain a 39-36 advantage with 48 seconds left in the half.

The teams traded baskets in the final 30 seconds, with the Panthers taking a 41-40 edge into halftime.

Kentucky State snapped an early second-half scoring drought when Miller drained a three-pointer to tie the game at 49-49 with 13:39 remaining. Ayo ended a Clark Atlanta run with a jumper at the 9:07 mark to keep the Thorobreds within four, trailing 60-56.

The Panthers capitalized on a Kentucky State scoring slump, using a 12-2 run to take a 67-56 lead with 6:04 left. Miller ended the drought with a three-pointer at the 5:00 mark.

The Thorobreds responded with a 12-1 run, fueled by Melvin's three free throws and a three-pointer that tied the game at 68-all with 2:58 to play.

A steal by Keon Henderson nearly led to a layup that would have cut the deficit to one, but the missed opportunity allowed Clark Atlanta to extend its lead to 75-70 with 1:47 left.

Morgan Brewer sank two free throws to bring Kentucky State within three, 75-73, at the 1:32 mark, but Clark Atlanta held on down the stretch to secure a 77-72 victory.
 
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