Youngstown State University
Wright State
Guins Battle to Final Minute Before Losing 67-61 to Wright State
1/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Youngstown -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team (6-14, 3-7 Horizon League) never backed down, but could not get over the hump either as the Penguins' comeback fell short in a 67-61 loss to Wright State (13-8, 7- Horizon League) on Thursday night at the Beeghly Center.
YSU trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half before clawing back within 62-59 in the final minute, but the Raiders were able to hold off the charge and hang on for the six-point victory.
For the game, the Penguins shot 42.3 percent (22-of-52) while the Raiders hit 42.6 percent (20-of-47). The difference was at the free-throw line where Wright State was 19-of-24 (79.2 percent) while the Guins hit 10-of-18 (55.6 percent).
Sophomore guard Tom Parks scored a team and career-high 15 points. Parks was 5-of-9 from the field and made four 3-pointers. Dallas Blocker scored a career-high 12 points off the bench.
Todd Brown scored a game-high 20 points while grabbing seven rebounds to lead the Raiders. Cooper Land had 12 points while N'Gai Evans added 11, all in the second half.
YSU made things interesting twice in the final five-and-a-half minutes.
The Guins pulled within 55-51 on Sirlester Martin's floater in the paint with 5:25 remaining. But the Raiders answered when Brown drained a 25 footer over Ashen Ward. Brown's layup that beat the shot clock pushed the advantage up to 60-52.
YSU kept the pressure on when Martin drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to get the Guins within 62-57 with 2:04 left in the game. After Brown missed a 3-pointer, DeAndre Mays battled from the rebound and his putback with a minute left made the deficit three points.
Evans' layup with 39.8 seconds left pushed the advantage back to five. After YSU failed to score, Brown made a free throw and following a missed 3-pointer by Parks, Will Graham made two free throws to seal the victory.
Wright State improves to 13-8 overall and 7-3 in the Horizon League. The Penguins are now 6-14 and 3-7.
The first half featured four lead changes, but Wright State led 28-26 at the break. It could have been a larger deficit but YSU's Vance Cooksey hit a running one-hander from beyond the 3-point line at the buzzer.
Tom Parks had the hot hand in the first half making all three of his field goal attempts, including two 3-pointers, to score nine points.
Wright State built a 22-15 lead at the 6:14 mark on a Troy Tabler jumper.
YSU answered with an impressive 8-0 run that featured six Penguin free throws and a basket by Kelvin Bright. During the run, Dallas Blocker made three charity tosses, Vytas Sulskis added two and Bright had one. Bright's basket at the 2:41 mark gave the Guins a 23-22 advantage.
Wright State countered as Gavin Horne drained a jumper 19 seconds later. Will Graham's basket at 1:44 increased the lead to three before Copper Land added two free throws with five seconds remaining. Cooksey took the inbounds pass, raced up the court and on one foot from the top of the key hit a 3-pointer as time expired.
YSU made 8-of-24 attempts (33.3 percent) while the Raiders connected on 38.5 percent (10-of-26). Both teams canned three 3-pointers while the Guins held an advantage at the line making 7-of-13 attempts. The teams combined for nine turnovers.
The Penguins conclude their four-game homestand on Saturday when they play host to Detroit. Tipoff at the Beeghly Center is set for 7:05 p.m. following the YSU women's game against Loyola.
