FRANKFURT, Ky. – Jordan Smith scored 21 points and hit a 3-pointer with 46 seconds left for the go-ahead basket and the Benedict College Tigers edged the Kentucky State Thorobreds 76-75 on Monday night.

The Tigers improved to 8-2 overall and 3-0 in the SIAC. The Thorobreds fell to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the SIAC.

Benedict rallied from an eight-point second-half deficit with a 13-2 run to take a 72-69 lead on a layup by Brennan Reynard with 3:51 left in the game.

The Thorobreds took a 73-72 lead with 2:05 left, but Quiron Cooke hit one of two free throws to tie the game with 1:42 on the clock. Over the next minute, KSU missed two field goals and a free throw, while Benedict missed one field goal. Smith's 3-pointer gave Benedict a 76-73 lead with 46 seconds left. Tryston Ford hit a layup for the Thorobreds with 32 seconds left to cut the lead to 76-75. Benedict turned the ball over, but KSU missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Kentucky State led by as many as eight points in the first half, 21-13, before the Tigers rallied with eight straight points for a 22-21 lead after a 3-pointer by Reynard. Kentucky State took a 38-36 lead at the half after a layup by Ford with nine seconds on the clock.

Reynard added 16 points for the Tigers, while Cooke scored 13 points.

Julius Barton led the Thorobreds with 14 points.

The Tigers will take on Central International in an exhibition game on Saturday.