Kentucky State Thorobreds hold on for 74-73 win over Clark Atlanta

FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- A free throw by Dorian Jordan with 4.3 seconds to play helped lift Kentucky State to a 74-73 win over Clark Atlanta in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Saturday at the Exum Center.

After the Thorobreds spent most of the game recovering from a slow start, Jordan, who tied for the team lead with 15 points and had a game-high eight assists, found himself at the free throw line with the game tied at 73 and 4.3 seconds left. After making the first free throw, he missed the second, and the Panthers got out on a fast break. Time expired as a Clark player was in the air on what would have been a game winning dunk, allowing Kentucky State to hold on for the win.

Malcolm Smith also finished with 15 points to tie Jordan for the team lead, while Tryston Ford added 11. Clark Atlanta's Derek Harper and Damien Enoch each had 16 points to lead all scorers.

Jordan scored the first basket of the game, but it would be the only lead they would hold in the first half. The game was close throughout, with neither team reaching a double digit lead, but Clark Atlanta closed the first half on an 11-4 run, taking a 43-34 lead to the break after a Harper 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Thorobreds spent much of the second half trying to battle back from that deficit, eventually taking back the lead at 64-63 after a pair of Jordan free throws at the 6:24 mark. The game would be closely contested the rest of the way with four lead changes, three ties, and neither team holding a lead of more than three points down the stretch.

Clark took its last lead when a Lawrance Freeman jumper made the score 73-71 at the 2:30 mark, but Smith was able to make a pair of free throws to tie the game on the next possession. Each team came up empty on its next two possessions, but Jordan was fouled on a drive to the basket with time running out, giving him the opportunity to win the game from the free throw line.

Clark Atlanta shot 51 percent (30-of-59) for the game to Kentucky State's 41 percent (29-of-70). The Thorobreds held a 39-35 rebounding advantage and turned the ball over 13 times to the Panthers' 18.

With its fourth straight win, Kentucky State moves to 7-4 overall and 6-1 in SIAC competition, while Clark Atlanta drops to 3-11 overall and 1-4 in the conference. The Thorobreds are back in action when they travel to Stillman on Thursday.

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COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION