Box Score
Northern Kentucky used a 19-6 run over a six-minute span to come away with an 82-74 win over the Youngstown State men's basketball on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center.
The Penguins, who had four players score in double figures, fall to 6-15 overall and 2-6 in the Horizon League while the Norse improve to 16-4 overall and 6-1 in the league.
Leading Youngstown State was junior Donel Cathcart III with 16 points while junior Antwan Maxwell, Jr., scored a season-high 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Sophomore Garrett Covington scored 11 points and freshman Darius Quisenberry scored 10 points and dished out six assists.
For the Norse, senior Drew McDonald scored a game-high 23 points with seven rebounds and Jalen Tate and Tyler Sharpe each had 13 points.
The game featured eight lead changes and eight ties through the first 29 minutes. Youngstown State trailed by four at the intermission and six start the second half, 40-34, at the 19:42 mark. Jumpers by Maxwell, Covington and Naz Bohannon tied the game at 40-40 before the Norse score nine of the next 12 points to take a 49-43 lead.
The Penguins went on a 12-5 run over the next three minutes to take a 55-54 lead with 11:36 to go. Quisenberry and Cathcart each hit a 3-pointer and Devin Morgan, who scored the 1,000th point of his career, made a pair of free throws to tie the game at 51-51. After a three-point play by McDonald, Cathcart converted two free throws and Quisenberry made a layup to give the Penguins their last lead of the game, 55-54.
Quisenberry made two free throws to get back with three, 60-57, but the Norse went on a 13-4 run to push their lead to 73-60 with 4:35 left.
Youngstown State twice cut the deficit to eight but would not get any closer.
Youngstown State visits Cleveland State, Saturday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m.
