Indianapolis, Ind. – The Youngstown State men's basketball team used a stifling defensive effort to knock off IUPUI, 78-50, on Thursday evening at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

It marked just the sixth time since joining the Horizon League the Penguins allowed 50 points or fewer in a conference game.

IUPUI, who fell to 6-16 overall and 2-9 in the Horizon League, connected on just 33.9 percent from the floor and did not make a 3-pointer while the Penguins forced 13 turnovers and blocked 10 shots.

The Penguins, who improve 15-6 overall and 7-3, connected on 50.8 percent from the field overall and went 27-for-41 from inside the arc.

DJ Burns led the Penguins with his 11th double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds while Ziggy Reid also posted 16 points. EJ Farmer scored 15 points and Imanuel Zorgvol added seven points with five rebounds and a career-high five blocks.

Youngstown State never trailed and led for an impressive 38:31. The Penguins built a double-digit lead within the first nine minutes of the game and went into the lockerroom at halftime with a 36-21 advantage.

The Penguins scored eight of the first 10 points of the second half to boost their lead to 21 points, 44-23, with 18:02 remaining.

The Jaguars went on a 12-0 run to get back within nine, 44-35, at the 12:29 mark, but the Penguins rebuilt its lead to 17 over the next five minutes after outscoring the Jaguars, 12-4, for a 56-39 lead with just over seven minutes left.

A 3-pointer by Reid, a basket by Farmer and two by Burns pushed the Penguins to an insurmountable 25-point advantage, 68-43, with 2:57 to go.

The Penguins host Northern Kentucky, Sunday, Jan. 28. Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m.