COLUMBIA, S.C. – Kentucky State's Lavar Miller Jr. hit nine 3-pointers and scored 32 points as the hot-shooting Thorobreds defeated the Benedict College Tigers 82-63 in a SIAC men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
 
Kentucky State made 16 3-pointers in the game, more than half of their total 30 field goals. The Tigers were held to just 31.8 percent shooting (21-of-66), including going 7-of-25 from 3-point range.
 
The Thorobreds, now 8-6 overall and 5-4 in the SIAC, used a 15-1 run in the first half to break away from a 14-14 tie to take a 29-15 lead and held a 37-23 lead at the half.
 
The Tigers, now 3-10 overall and 3-4 in the SIAC, scored the first five points of the second half on a 3-pointer by Jordan Butler and a dunk by Donte Whymns to cut the lead to nine points, but Benedict could not get any closer. Kentucky State built its largest lead, 71-48, after a basket by Miller with 7:03 left in the game.
 
Tariq Shepherd led the Tigers with a season-high 24 points, while Whymns added 11 points.
 
Benedict will be back in action next Saturday with a road trip to Atlanta to take on Morehouse College at 1 p.m.