Box Score Buffalo, N.Y. – Youngstown State tied the
school record for most 3-pointers in a game for the third time this
season, but dropped an 80-72 decision to Buffalo on Saturday
evening at Alumni Arena.
The Guins, who made 14 3-pointers, were led by sophomore Kendrick
Perry's double-double of 18 points and 10 assists and 17 points
from both senior Ashen Ward and junior
Blake
Allen.
Perry connected on 7-of-18 shooting from the floor, including
three 3-pointers. Allen made five 3-pointers, Ward made three, Nate Perry had
two and DuShawn Brooks
added one.
Youngstown State falls to 6-3 while Buffalo improves to 6-2.
Although the Guins shot 40 percent from behind the arc
(14-for-35), they had no answer for the inside presence of
Buffalo's Javon McCrea and Mitchell Watt, who scored 29 and 20
points, respectively.
McCrea, who connected on 14-of-17 from the field, also grabbed a
game-high 13 rebounds.
The Guins trailed by just one, 62-61, after a layup by Perry at
the 8:38 mark and by six, 67-61, after a 3-pointer by Buffalo's
Tony Watson and two free throws from Watt with 7:43 left.
The Guins made four consecutive defensive stops but failed to
capitalize on offense, missing two jumpers and committing two
turnovers.
An offensive rebound and layup by McCrea extended the Bulls'
lead to eight, 69-61, with 5:10 remaining.
Ward hit three late 3-pointers to get the Guins, who trailed by
as many as 10, 74-64, within six, 78-72, with 12 seconds left but
Buffalo made two free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
The first half featured six lead changes and three ties, but the
Guins lead through most of the first half.
The Guins used a 13-5 run to build a 26-18 lead midway through
the first half after the Bulls knotted the game, 13-13. A 3-pointer
from Allen and two from sophomore Nate Perry spark the Guins
first-half spurt.
Buffalo, though, outscored the Guins 12-4 to take a 30-29 lead
at the 6:17 mark after a dunk by McCrea.
Kendrick Perry, who scored 15 points in the first half, and
Allen put the Guins back up by four, 36-32, after a pair of treys
with 4:17 left.
After Buffalo scored six straight points to take a 38-36 lead,
Kendrick Perry drained a 3-pointer with three seconds to give the
Guins a 39-38 halftime lead.
The Guins take a break for finals before visiting Toledo,
Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. in Toledo, Ohio.