The Kentucky State men’s basketball team secured a hard-fought victory on Monday night, overcoming the Spring Hill Badgers with an 80-70 win at the William Exum Center. The game was tightly contested throughout, with 13 lead changes in the second half alone. However, the Thorobreds were able to make key plays down the stretch to secure the win.
Senior guard Montrell Jacobs led the way for Kentucky State with a game-high 23 points, including 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. He received valuable support from Jalon Andrews, who scored 13 points, and Kong Kong, who chipped in with 12 points. The team also had a strong performance on the boards, outrebounding Spring Hill 47-34, with four Thorobreds grabbing six rebounds each.
The first half of the game saw both teams trading the lead multiple times. The Badgers got off to a quick start, taking an 18-8 lead in the first quarter. However, the Thorobreds were able to chip away at the deficit and tie the game at 34-34 with 2:46 left in the first half. Montrell Jacobs then hit a long-range jumper to give Kentucky State a 39-38 lead heading into halftime.
In the second half, the game remained close, with the lead changing hands multiple times. The Badgers regained the lead at 16:25 on a fast break dunk, but Kentucky State soon answered back with a long-range jumper by Aziel Blackwell that tied the game 47-47 with 15:53 remaining in the second half.
Despite the back-and-forth battle, Kentucky State was able to establish some separation in the closing minutes of the game. Jacobs made a crucial three on a fast break to give the Thorobreds a 72-70 lead with 2:23 left in the second half. Back-to-back made free throws by Kong Kong then secured a ten-point 80-70 win for Kentucky State.
The Thorobreds will now hit the road for a Saturday matchup with rival Central State, with tipoff scheduled for 3 p.m. With this important victory under their belt, Kentucky State will be looking to carry this momentum forward as they seek to extend their winning streak.
