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Chicago, Ill. -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team extended its winning streak to four games after holding off UIC, 66-64, on Saturday afternoon at Credit Union 1 Arena.
The Penguins (14-10, 8-6 Horizon League) were led by senior Tevin Olison with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting while junior Dwayne Cohill scored 19 points. Senior Michael Akuchie recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Flames (8-13, 4-8 Horizon League) were led by Damaria Franklin with a game-high 23 points.
Both teams led by as many as nine points, but each team surrendered those advantages.
Youngstown State led 45-36 with 12:06 left in the game, but the Flames used a 19-7 run over the next seven minutes to take a 55-52 with 5:39 remaining.
Olison and Akuchie hit consecutive 3-pointers to regain a three-point lead 58-55 before the Flames' Jalen knotted the game at 58-58 with a 3-pointer at the 4:25 mark.
A Cohill driving layup put the Penguins up 60-58 before UIC's Jace Carter's 3-pointer gave the Flames their final lead of the game, 61-60, with 2:21 to go.
Cohill quickly answered with a pair of driving layups to give the Penguins a three-point lead, 64-61, with 1:32 to go.
A YSU turnover led to a Flames dunk to get to 64-63, and another Penguins miscue with 13 seconds left gave UIC a chance to win the game. The Penguins forced a turnover and Shemar Rathan-Mayes made a pair of free throws with eight seconds left to seal the victory.
In the first half, the Penguins trailed by nine, 25-16, with 6:52 left before halftime, but outscored the Flames, 16-4, to close out the stanza and a take a 32-29 lead into the lockerroom at halftime.
Owen Long scored five straight points with a 3-pointer and jumper to start the Penguins run.
After a UIC basket, Olison made a pair of layups to get within two, 27-25, at the 4:24 mark.
UIC's Warren made two free throws to extend the lead to four, but the Penguins scored the final seven points of the half. A layup and three-point play by Akuchie gave the Penguins a 30-29 lead, and Daniel Ogoro's layup as time expired gave the Penguins a three-point halftime lead.
Youngstown State begins a five-game homestand against Oakland, Wednesday, Feb. 9. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.