January 1, 2008 – FRANKFORT, KY – Playing on the road and on New Year’s Day was a bad idea for the Maroon Tigers. Losing 83-75 to Kentucky State was the confirmation of that bad idea.
Early foul trouble undid the Maroon Tigers who suffered their second loss of the season, both on the road. Starters Kenney Boyd and Jason Reese fouled out of the game and two other starters had four fouls each, limiting their playing time and defensive aggressiveness.
Morehouse fell to 5-2 (2-1 SIAC). Kentucky State improved to 3-3 (2-1 SIAC).
Morehouse trailed most of the game, except for a 10-minute stretch at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second, when the Maroon Tiger lead reached nine points.
Kentucky State outscored the Maroon Tigers 27-13 midway through the second half and with the game on the line the Thorobreds hit 9-of-10 free throws down the stretch and pulled out the win.
Brenden Stoner led the Maroon Tigers with 23 points, hitting 9-of-19 shots, including three three-pointers. The senior guard added three each of rebounds, assists and steals.
Reese, the team leading scorer, contributed 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists and four steals, in only 26 minutes of play.
Boyd, who fouled out at the 5:04 mark of the second half, hit 7-of-7 shots for 14 points. But the team leading rebounder (9.4 per game) managed to pull down only two rebounds.
Forward Jerry Felder led Morehouse in rebounding with nine, to go with eight points and two steals. Guard Paul Williams hit three threes, to add nine points and handed out four assists.
Guard Travis Floyd, who leads the SIAC in assists, had a game high seven assists, but scored only two points on 1-of-7 shooting.
Senior forward Marlon Ferguson, who missed the first semester with a leg injury, saw his first action of the season and contributed three points and two rebounds.
All-SIAC player Kenny Jones paced the Thorobreds, with game highs in points (31) and rebounds (12). Jones hit 13-of-14 shots from the field. Elijah Baker came off the KSU bench to score 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
Morehouse will travel to Jackson, TN, to face the Lane Dragons, Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Central Time.
