Youngstown State University
17-15
Wright State
20-11
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown State | 19 | 40 | 59 |
| Wright State | 33 | 33 | 66 |
YSU Puts Scare Into Third-Seeded Wright State; Falls 66-59
3/8/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Valparaiso, Ind. -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team used a strong second half to put a scare into third-seeded Wright State on Friday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center, but the Penguins ultimately dropped a 66-59 decision to the Raiders in the second round of the Horizon League Tournament.
YSU (17-15) trailed by as many as 18 points in the second half before closing to within three twice in the final four minutes. But the Guins could get no closer as the Raiders (20-11) won to advance to the Horizon League Tournament semifinals to play Detroit tomorrow.
The Raiders led 37-19 in the opening minutes of the second half, before the Penguins battled back.
First, YSU used a 10-2 run to get the deficit to 39-29 on driving layup by DJ Cole.
For the first time since 4:30 was left in the first half, YSU crept within single digits at 47-38 on a Kamren Belin 3-pointer with 11:09 left in the game.
The Penguins pulled within six points three times and were finally able to get within four at 56-52 on a driving layup by Kendrick Perry with 4:04 remaining. YSU then pulled within 56-53 when Damian Eargle split a pair of free throws 28 seconds later. But with 3:15 left Wright State went back on top by 59-53 on a 3-pointer by Reggie Arceneaux.
On YSU's next possession, Eargle made his first free throw then was able to grab the offensive rebound of his own miss on the second attempt and his putback brought the Guins back within 59-56.
WSU's Jerran Young converted a layup to put YSU behind 61-56 with 2:15 remaining. Neither team was able to capitalize on their next possession and Perry pulled the Guins within 61-57 after splitting a pair of free throws with 49.8 seconds left.
Young converted two free throws with 44 seconds left, but a Perry layup at 35.8 made it 63-59. WSU's Miles Dixon missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Belin's long 3-point try hit off the rim and WSU grabbed the rebound. Trailing 64-59, Blake Allen could not connect on a 3-pointer and Joe Bramanti made two free throws with 10.8 seconds left for the final outcome.
In the second half, YSU outscored the Raiders 40-33. The Guins shot 41.1 percent (23-of-56) from the field in the game. Belin scored 20, Eargle had 13 and Perry added 11.
The Penguins started the contest by scoring the first five and then seven of the first nine points.
After a Belin layup at the 13:17 mark gave the Guins an 11-7, the offense went through a dry spell that allowed the Raiders to forge ahead for a big lead.
The Penguins scored one point and missed nine straight field-goal attempts over an 8:10 span. During the drought, Wright State went on a 14-1 run to claim a 21-12 advantage. The lone Penguin point came on a free throw by Belin at the 8:59 mark.
Allen ended YSU's rough shooting stretch with a fast-break layup at the 5:07 mark to cut the deficit to 21-14. But the Raiders' Reggie Arceneaux drilled a 3-point to push the advantage back up to 10 points.
In the opening half, YSU was 8-of-27 (29.6 percent) from the field and missed on all seven 3-point attempts. The Penguins failed to register and assist and had five turnovers. WSU made 11-of-24 points (45.8 percent), including four consecutive 3-point shots at on juncture. The Raiders also helped themselves by making 7-of-8 free throws.
