Box Score
The Youngstown State men's basketball team allowed its fewest points in a game in more than a decade and earned its fourth straight victory by beating Canisius 71-43 on Saturday afternoon at Beeghly Center.
The Golden Griffins missed their first 12 field goals of the game, and the Penguins led by double digits for the final 30:21. It was the fewest points scored by an opponent against Youngstown State since Fredonia State had 35 on Dec. 6, 2011. After YSU allowed the shot clock to expire on its final possession, Canisius made an unguarded layup with 0.7 seconds left to keep the Penguins from recording their first 30-point victory since 2018.
Youngstown State's record is now 6-3, and Canisius drops to 2-9. It's also YSU's first-ever win over the Golden Griffins in program history after dropping the first six contests.
Dwayne Cohill recorded the first double-double of his career with 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Michael Akuchie had 12 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes of action. YSU's bench contributed 35 of the 71 points, and Owen Long was the top scorer out of the starting five with 11 points. Luke Chicone added six points and a team-high eight assists.
Malek Green scored 19 points off the bench to lead the Golden Griffins.
With both teams struggling offensively at the outset, the Penguins' bench scored 11 consecutive points to break open a close game. YSU's lead was 12-8 when Green made Canisius' second field goal of the game at the 11:59 mark, and the 11-0 run over the next 2:23 gave the Penguins a 23-8 lead.
Chris Shelton started the run with a layup, and he assisted on a 3-pointer by Long with 11:16 on the clock to put YSU ahead 17-8. Shelton and Long then hit 3-pointers on assists from Chicone on consecutive possessions to push the margin to 23-8. Canisius got no closer than 10 the rest of the afternoon.
The lead's pinnacle in the first half was 33-14 when Akuchie had a three-point play on a drive to the hoop and free throw with 2:40 left. The Penguins led 35-17 at halftime.
Youngstown State's lead reached 20 for the first time at 49-29 when Jacori Owens made two free throws at the 10:37 mark. Cohill then grabbed his 10th rebound and went coast-to-coast for a three-point play that got him into double digits in the scoring column just over a minute later. That was all part of a 14-3 run that squashed any comeback attempt as a 44-29 margin grew to 58-32 with eight minutes left. The largest lead was 30 when Chicone hit a pull-up jumper with 1:12 left to put YSU ahead 71-41.
The Penguins shot 50.9 percent overall and 63.9 percent inside the 3-point arc. Canisius shot 23.8 percent overall and 21.7 percent from long distance. Youngstown State won the rebounding battle 48-32 and held a 36-20 scoring advantage in the paint.
YSU concludes its homestand on Dec. 18 against Westminster. Tipoff at the Beeghly Center is set for Noon.
