Cougar News

(Frankfort, Kentucky)- Kentucky State (1-0) officially began its 2008-09 season with an 92-86 victory over Mid-Continent University (1-6) in collegiate men's basketball action in Frankfort, Kentucky, Saturday, Nov. 22. The game goes into the books as an exhibition game for MCU, the Cougars' final exhibition this season. Six Thorobreds scored in double figures, and KSU's reserve players outscored MCU's reserves, 53-50.

    The Thorobreds welcomed back MCU head coach Winston Bennett, who was KSU's head coach from 2000-03. Current KSU coach Tom Patterson was Bennett's assistant.

     MCU hosts a home game finally at the Mayfield High School Sports Arena after three weeks on the road when it hosts a rematch against Indiana University-Southeast, Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 7:00. Indiana-Southeast defeated MCU, 90-83, at IUS, Nov. 14.

     After MCU took a 10-5 lead with 16:04 left in the first half, KSU went on a 27-7 run and led 32-17 with 8:23 left. Forward Anthony Hargrove scored 8, and forward Zydrunas Rackaukas added 6 points in the run. KSU led 49-39 at halftime. MCU cut KSU's advantage to 53-48 with 14:51 left in the game, but KSU rebuilt the lead to 73-63 with 8:14 left. MCU used a 9-0 run to whittle the lead to 73-72 with 6:37 remaining, but KSU led by as many as eight but by no fewer than four the rest of the game.

     Reserve guard TiRon Peoples (Paducah, KY/Heath HS) led MCU with 17 points and 5 rebounds, and starting guard Aaron Pearson (Baton Rouge, LA/Southern Laboratory HS/Cabrillo CC, Calif.) scored a season-high 13 points and had 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists. Off the bench, Tristan Edwards (Riverside, CA/Fontana HS/Riverside CC, Calif.) added 10 points with 2 three-pointers, and center Ansil Williams (Trinidad and Tobago/Millersburg Military Institute) hit all 4 of his field goal attempts and finished with 10 points. Starting forward Santez Johnson (Tupelo, MS/Tupelo HS/Itawamba CC) contributed 8 points and 5 rebounds, and starting center Kenny Thomas (Orange, NJ/Orange HS/Essex County College) scored 9 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Reserve forward Keiran Nunley (Kent, WA/Kent HS/Riverside CC) added 8 points and 5 rebounds.  MCU shot .456 from the field (26-57), made 5 of 18 three-pointers and 29 of 42 free throws, and committed 21 turnovers, 15 in the first half.

    Kentucky State shot .527 (29-55), and made 8 of 20 three-pointers and 26 of 39 free throws and committed 28 turnovers.  Hargrove finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots off the bench, and starting forward Brandon McQueen contributed 16 points with 4 three-pointers, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. Rackaukas finished with 13, including 9 of 13 free throws, and in reserve roles, guard William Marsh added 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, guard Brandon Gatson totaled 14 points and 6 rebounds, and guard Jarrod Gay added 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.