COLUMBIA, S.C. – Brandon Morris scored 27 points and the Benedict College Tigers held off a late Kentucky State rally to take a 68-65 victory over the Thorobreds in an SIAC men's basketball contest on Saturday afternoon in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.

Benedict improves to 2-3 overall and 2-0 in the SIAC with its second straight win. Kentucky State falls to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the SIAC.

Benedict had a 14-point lead, 54-40, with 9:44 left in the game, but the Thorobreds rallied back with eight straight points to cut the lead to 54-48 with 7:09 left in the game. A 9-1 run by the Thorobreds, which included a pair of 3-pointers by Malcolm Smith, gave Kentucky State a 60-59 lead with 3:56 left in the game.

The Tigers regained the lead on a pair of free throws by Morris, then Morris added a dunk for a 63-60 lead with 2:52 on the clock. After Kentucky State hit a pair of free throws, Christopher Spencer sank a jumper for a 65-62 lead with 2:03 left to play. After Kentucky State cut the lead to 66-65 with seven seconds left, Morris sealed the victory with two free throws with six seconds left.

Spencer had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Smith led the Thorobreds with 23 points, while Reggie Breeden added 18 points.

Benedict held Kentucky State to 36.5 percent shooting, while connecting on 43.3 percent from the floor. Benedict had a large advantage on the boards, outrebounding the Thorobreds 50-31.

Benedict wraps up its current homestand with another conference matchup on Monday, hosting Lane College at 7:30 p.m.