Box Score
Highland Heights, Ky. -- Four players scored in double figures but the Youngstown State men's basketball team dropped a 79-64 decision to Northern Kentucky on Saturday afternoon at BB&T Arena.
Youngstown State falls to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the Horizon League while Northern Kentucky improves to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the league.
Senior Michael Akuchie led the Penguins with 15 points and nine rebounds while senior Naz Bohannon posted 12 points and nine rebounds. Juniors Darius Quisenberry and Geoff Hamperian each scored 11 points while Quisenberry added four assists and three steals.
The Penguins could never find their rhythm from the field and shot just 35 percent from the floor and 16.7 percent from 3-point range. NKU shot 54.5 percent from the floor, including 63 percent in the second half, and made 11 3-pointers.
Youngstown State led 15-8 in the first half, which featured 10 lead changes and five ties, before the Norse went on an 8-0 run to take a 16-15 advantage. Neither team led by more than three points the rest of the half and the Norse took a 34-31 lead into the lockerroom at the intermission.
The Penguins missed their first nine shots to start the second half and the Norse built its lead to 11, 45-34, with 15:49 remaining. A basket by Kenny Ganley, Jr., and a free throw by Akuchie cut the deficit to eight, 45-37, but the Penguins would not get any closer.
Northern Kentucky led by as many as 19, 66-47, with 7:31 left.
The Penguins and Norse face each, Sunday, Dec. 20. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on 570 WKBN and ESPN2.
