Youngstown, Ohio -- Youngstown State placed four players in double figures and used a strong second half to knock off Utah Tech, 75-68, on Friday evening at Beeghly Center.

The Penguins improve to 2-2 on the year while the Trailblazers fall to 1-2.

Senior DJ Burns recorded his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Penguins offensively. Graduate student Bryson Langdon and senior Jaylen Bates each scored 12 points and senior Brandon Rush added 11 points.

Noa Gonsalves led the Trailblazers with 17 points while Tanner Christensen had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds and Jaylen Searles added 12 points.

The Penguins shot an impressive 54.2 percent from the field in the second half after a paltry 30.8 percent in the opening stanza.

After taking a 34-26 lead into the lockerroom at halftime, Youngstown State scored the first five points of the second half to extend its lead to 10, 39-29, after a 3-pointer by Burns and two free throws by Rush.

The teams traded baskets before Searles hit back-to-back 3-pointers to get the Traillblazers back within four, 41-37, with 16:12 left.

Utah Tech trimmed the YSU lead down to one, 49-48, but a dunk by Rush, an alley-oop dunk by freshman Gabe Dynes and a a 3-pointer by Bates extended the Penguins lead by to eight points, 56-48.

After a bucket by Utah Tech's Caleb Stearman, Bates drained another 3-pointer to get the Penguins a nine-point lead, 59-50, with just under eight minutes to go.

The Penguins twice led by as many as 11 points late in the second half, and the Trailblazers would only get within five.

Youngstown State hosts Lake Erie College, Sunday, Nov. 19. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at Beeghly Center.