Claflin Falls to Kentucky State in SIAC Men’s Basketball Contest

12/5/2015 6:15:00 PM

Box Score

Frankfort, Ky.—Patrell Rogers scored 12 of his game-high 21 points in the second half as the Claflin University men's basketball team fell to Kentucky State University by 10, 84-74, at the Exum Center in Frankfort, Ky. Rogers also had four assists for the Panthers, who fell to 2-5 overall and 0-2 in the SIAC.

Austin Lawton scored 20 points (11 in the first half) with eight rebounds and three blocks for Claflin. Brian Townsend contributed scored 10 points with eight rebounds for the Panthers in loss.

Kentucky State was paced by Dorian Jordan, who also had a game-high 21 points. The Thorobreds had four players in double-figures as Julius Barton scored 13, Malcolm Smith had 12 and Kevin Shaw added 11. Reggie Breeden came off the bench to pull in a team-high eight rebounds in the win.

Lawton hit a layup just 12 seconds in the second half to give Claflin the 39-37 lead to start the half. Kentucky State quickly put together a 10-2 run to gain the six-point lead, 47-41. The Panthers scored the next five points to cut the deficit to one, 47-46, but the Thorobreds kept pressing. Kentucky State scored six points of their own to push its lead to seven, 53-46, but Claflin remained poised. The game continued to be one of runs, as the Panthers strung together seven straight points to tie the game once again, 53-53, with 12:56 remaining. The teams exchanged the lead over the next four possesions, before Kentucky State regained the momentum. The Thorobreds put together another run, 10-2, to take a six point lead, 65-59, heading into the media timeout (7:57). Kentucky State managed to push its lead to 13, 76-63, with a little over four minutes remaining. The Thorobreds maintained a double-digit lead until late in the half, when a three-pointer by Caldwell cut the deficit to seven, 82-74, with 1:40 remaining in the game. A layup by Kentucky State's Dorian Jordan pushed the lead back to 10 to close-out the game.

The teams exchanged baskets over the first 18 points of the game. Two free-throws by Kentucky State's Malcolm Smith opened a 16-6 run over four-plus minutes to the Thorobreds the 26-16 lead just over the 10-minute mark. Trevor Dantzler hit three straight free-throws which sparked an 11-0 run for Claflin to cut the deficit to one, 30-29, with 6:39 left in the half. A three-pointer by the Thorobreds' Kevin Shaw pushed the lead back to four, but a field goal and two free throws by the Panthers tied the game at 33-all with 4:51 remaining. The teams exchanged baskets over the remaining four-plus minutes, ending with a tie score, 37-37, at intermission.

Claflin will close-out its six-game road swing in Wilberforce, Ohio on Monday, Dec. 7 at Central State University in a SIAC match-up. The Panthers will host Fayetteville State University next Saturday, Dec. 12 in a 4 p.m. non-conference game in Tullis Arena.

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