Central State University entered another packed house Saturday night to face rival Kentucky State for the second time this season. The first contest has held at the Beacom-Lewis Gym where 2400 Marauder fans filled the seats to watch the home team defeat their rival in the final seconds. The Marauders needed another win, and this time they had to do it in front of 2400 hostile fans.
Play started out somewhat sloppy for both teams, as there was no score for the first three minutes of the contest. At the 17 minute mark Wesley Jones, a Kentucky native, hit a jumper inside the paint to give his team a 2 point lead. It wouldn’t be until the 13 minute mark when the Thorobreds got on the scoreboard. Both teams traded punches for the next 90 seconds, until the Marauders went on a 6 point run to increase their lead by nine. Later in the half, the Thorobreds battled back to cut the deficit to three. Moments later Cole Prophet and Brandon Price hit back-to-back three-pointers to regain a 9 point advantage. The Thorobreds kept coming back, and added a couple foul shots at the end of the period to cut the lead back down to three.
Jarrod Gay started the second half with a quick three-pointer to tie the game for the Thorobreds. Damone Pledger answered with a lay-up inside the paint, and Wesley Jones hit one from long range. The Marauders kept control of the lead until the 13 minute mark when Parysh Monroe laid one up and was fouled in the process. He tied the game with the lay-up, and gave his team the lead for the first time with the foul shot.
After several minutes of fierce competition, the Marauders were able to have a 3 point advantage with 5 minutes left to play. Minutes later Parysh Munroe laid one up for the Thorobreds, but was answered on the Marauder’s ensuing possession with a jumper by Anthony Passley. Both teams traded foul shots, with the Marauders still with a 3 point advantage. 23 seconds were left on the clock, when Jarrod Gay had the ball for the Thorobreds, with a chance to tie the game. He put one in the air from long range, but it didn’t find the basket. The Marauders held on to win by a final score of 59-54.
With that win, Central State improves their record to 18-5 and Kentucky State drops to 7-15. The Marauders will play next Saturday at the University of the District of Columbia where they will be playing another must win game if they have any hope of entering in the NCAA tournament. The Firebirds have a dismal record of 1-16 overall.