Youngstown, Ohio -- Sophomore John Lovelace, Jr. scored a career-high 29 points to lead the Youngstown State men's basketball team to a 79-57 win over Lake Erie on Sunday afternoon at Beeghly Center.

The Penguins improve to 3-2 overall while the Storm falls to 1-4.

Lovelace connected on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor with a pair of 3-pointers, seven rebounds and three assists. Senior Ziggy Reid and DJ Burns were also in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Youngstown State led 13-12 midway through the first half and used a 15-3 run to extend its lead to 13 points, 28-15, with 6:52 left before halftime. Lovelace scored 10 points during the with twp 3-pointers, two free throws and a driving layup.

After the Storm trimmed the lead down to six, dunks by Lovelace and Brandon Rush pushed the Penguins lead back to 10, 32-22, with 3:58.

Lake Erie, though, scored the final 10 points of the half to enter the lockerroom tied at 32-32.

The Storm took their first lead of the game, 36-34, after a jumper by Kelvin Swims and held a 38-37 edge after a layup by Jonny Manning at the 18:40 mark.

Youngstown State regained a 42-38 lead after a basket by Lovelace, a free throw from Imanuel Zorgvol and another bucket by Lovelace.

The Penguins utilized a 13-5 run over a 4:59 span to turn a two-point edge into an insurmountable 13-point lead 60-47 at the 8:48 mark.Burns began the spurt with a 3-pointer and the Penguins capped the run with a five-point play on a 3-pointer by Reid and two charity tosses from Burns.

Youngstown State maintained a dobule-digit lead the rest of the game.

Youngstown State visits Dayton, Friday, Nov. 24. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio