Youngstown State University
9-7, 0-1HL
Milwaukee
11-4, 1-0HL
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown State | 29 | 47 | 76 |
| Milwaukee | 39 | 43 | 82 |
Men's Basketball Comeback Falls Just Short at Milwaukee, 82-76
1/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Milwaukee, Wis. – Senior Kendrick Perry scored a game-high 31 points and nearly led the Youngstown State men's basketball team to a comeback victory, but the Penguins fell to Milwaukee, 82-76, on Thursday evening at US Cellular Arena.
Sophomore Ryan Weber scored 14 points, all in the second half, and senior Kamren Belin and sophomore Bobby Hain each added 10 points for the Penguins, who fall to 9-7 overall and 0-1 in the Horizon League.
Perry connected on 11-of-21 shooting from the floor with four rebounds and four assists. As a team, YSU made eight 3-pointers, including seven in the second half, but shot just 30.8 percent from behind the arc.
Milwaukee's Jordan Aaron led the Panthers (11-4, 1-0 Horizon League) with 27 points, including four 3-pointers. Kyle Kelm posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Panthers shot 46.2 percent for the game, including 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from 3-point range.
The Penguins trailed by 19, 69-50, at the 8:14 mark after two free throws by Aaron. Perry scored Youngstown State's next seven points and nine of its next 11 as YSU went on an 11-1 run to get within nine, 70-61, with 3:27 remaining.
After the teams traded baskets, Weber buried a 3-pointer to get the Penguins within six, 72-66, with 1:45 to go.
A pair of 3-pointers by Perry with 27 and 12 seconds cut the deficit to five, 81-76, but UWM's Matt Tiby made a free throw with nine seconds left to seal the win for Milwaukee.
The Penguins struggled shooting the ball, especially from behind the arc, in the first half and fell behind by nine, 23-14, midway through the stanza.
A 10-4 run over a five-minute span got the Penguins within three, 27-24, with 4:15 left in the half. Milwaukee, though, made four straight 3-pointers to close out the half on a 12-5 run to take a 39-29 lead into the lockerroom at halftime.
The Penguins shot just 37.5 percent from the field and went just 1-for-10 from 3-point range, including missing their first nine attempts from beyond the arc. Milwaukee buried six 3-pointers in the first half and outrebounded YSU, 21-14.
The Penguins continue their three-game raod trip when they visit Green Bay, Saturday, Jan. 4, at 2 p.m. at the Resch Center.
